TRAINING/WORKSHOP ON

G E OME TR IC D E SIG N OF INTE R SE C TIONS

F O R D P W H H I G H WAY E N G I N E E R S

Design of
AT-GRADE INTERSECTION
GEOMETRY - ROAD SIGNS - PAVEMENT MARKINGS
ENGR. RAMMEL F. MISTICA, MSCE

D E PA RT M E N T O F P U B L I C W O R K S A N D H I G H WAY S B U R E A U O F Q U A L I TY A N D SA F E TY
1. DEFINITION 1/3

An INTERSECTION is
defined as the general
area where two or more
highways join or cross,
including the roadway and
roadside facilities for traffic
movements within the
area.

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1. DEFINITION 2/3
An intersection includes the
areas needed for all modes
of travel: pedestrian, bicycle,
passenger vehicle, truck, and
transit.
◦ roadway pavement
◦ median islands
◦ auxiliary lanes/
channelizations
◦ pedestrian ramps/
sidewalks

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1. DEFINITION 3/3
The functional area on the approach to
an intersection or driveway consists of
Physical Functional three basic elements:
Area Area 1. Perception-reaction decision
distance
2. Maneuver distance
3. Queue-storage distance

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1.1 WHY FOCUS ON INTERSECTIONS? 1/2
MOBILITY Traffic congestion occurs due to road
bottlenecks/chokepoints

Lower downstream
capacity (road side
friction, etc.)
Traffic
congestion
Intersections normally occurs
Merging
sections
at intersections
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1.1 WHY FOCUS ON INTERSECTIONS? 2/2
SAFETY

Majority of fatal
road crashes in a
road network occur
at intersections

*TMG, 2002 (Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, Sigua)

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Types of Intersections

D E PA RT M E N T O F P U B L I C W O R K S A N D H I G H WAY S B U R E A U O F Q U A L I TY A N D SA F E TY
2. Types of Intersections
Infeasible region
Control type

Minor street two-way volume (veh/h)

Minor flow >
Major flow
Two-way Stop Control (TWSC) SIG
Signalized
All-way Stop Control (AWSC) AWSC
AWSC
Signalized intersection
Interchange
Roundabout TWSC
TWSC

Number of legs
Major street two-way volume (veh/h)
Three-leg intersection Highway Capacity Manual
Ideal number of legs
Four-leg intersection

(N)-leg intersection

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2.1 Types of Intersections-Control Type 1/5
Two-Way Stop Control (TWSC)

Minor Road
STOP

Major Road
STOP
Vehicle on the
MINOR ROAD shall
YIELD/STOP

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2.1 Types of Intersections-Control Type 2/5
All-Way Stop Control (AWSC)

STOP STOP

STOP STOP Vehicle on the right

has the priority
Right-hand Rule Closer to the Conflict
Point
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2.1 Types of Intersections-Control Type 3/5
Signalized intersection
Movements are
separated by TIME

Green
indication
has the Right-
Of-Way to
cross the
intersection
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2.1 Types of Intersections-Control Type 4/5
Interchange/ Grade-
Separation
Movements are separated by SPACE

eliminates crossing
conflicts at intersections by Flyover or
vertical separation of underpass
roadways in space.
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2.1 Types of Intersections-Control Type 5/5
Roundabout
A roundabout is an
intersection with a
central island around
which traffic must
travel counter
clockwise and in
which entering traffic
must yield to
circulating traffic.

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2.2 Types of Intersections-Number of legs 1/3
Three-Legged Intersection

Unchannelized Channelized

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2.2 Types of Intersections-Number of legs 2/3
Four-Legged Intersection

Unchannelized Channelized

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2.2 Types of Intersections-Number of legs 3/3
Multi-Legged Intersection

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Traffic Conflicts at Intersection

D E PA RT M E N T O F P U B L I C W O R K S A N D H I G H WAY S B U R E A U O F Q U A L I TY A N D SA F E TY
3. Traffic Conflicts at Intersection 1/3
3-Leg Intersection

3 Crossing Conflicts
3 Merging Conflicts
3 Diverging Conflicts

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3. Traffic Conflicts at Intersection 2/3
4-Leg Intersection

16 Crossing Conflicts
8 Merging Conflicts
8 Diverging Conflicts

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3. Traffic Conflicts at Intersection 3/3
4-leg roundabout

4 Diverging Conflicts
4 Merging Conflicts

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3.1 Traffic Conflicts at Intersection 1/2
Permitting all traffic movements, Permitting all traffic movements,
a 5-leg intersection has at least a 6-leg intersection has at least
79 conflict points. 172 conflict points.

As the number of intersection leg increases, number of

conflict points exponentially increases

CONFLICT POINTS are

In need of TRAFFIC
the locations where
MANAGEMENT to avoid
potential ROAD CRASH
COLLISION
incidents may occur
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3.1 Traffic Conflicts at Intersection 2/2
fatal
injury
ROAD CRASH
Property Damage Only

TRAFFIC Traffic Conflict shall

CONFLICT be addressed before a
(near misses) road crash occurs

UNDISTURBED
PASSAGES

TRAFFIC SAFETY PYRAMID

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4.0 Basic Elements of Intersection Design
Elements of Road Safety at Intersection

Road Signs
Visibility Channelization
and Markings

Facilities for
Auxiliary Intersection
Vulnerable
Lanes Control
Road User

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 THANK YOU!

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