TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic –Traffic Islands

• Definition of Traffic Islands:

Traffic Island is physical structure or a painted object found on roads and
roadside which is usually seen as a raised area along the road for a better &
orderly flow of traffic or act as a stopping/ resting area for pedestrians.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic –Traffic Islands

• Advantages of Traffic Islands:

➢ One-way movement ensures smooth traffic flow
➢ Traffic proceeds continuously at low speed; this reduces or minimizes
frequent stopping and starting.
➢ It automatically enforces a check on the vehicle speed.
➢ All turns can be made with ease.
➢ For moderate traffic, no control by police or traffic signals is needed.
➢ A trend of decrease in accident rates

• Disadvantages of Traffic Islands:

➢ In case the pedestrian traffic is large, police control becomes necessary.
➢ The distance to be covered to reach one leg of the intersection from
another becomes more, except in the case of simple left turns.
➢ High standards of road signing and pavement markings are necessary for
safe operation.
➢ It requires a large area, which is difficult to get in urban areas.
➢ It requires additional funds for construction of Island.
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Topic –Traffic Islands

• Objectives of providing Traffic Islands:

➢ Separation of maneuvre (Very critical crossing) areas

➢ Reduce excessively large paved areas.
➢ Control of maneuver angle.
➢ Favor predominant turning movements.
➢ Control of speed.
➢ Protection and storage of turning and crossing vehicles
➢ Blockage of prohibited movements
➢ Provide space for traffic control devices
➢ Segregation of non-homogeneous flows
➢ Protection of pedestrians and reduction of crossing distances between
refuses
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Topic –Traffic Islands

• Types of Traffic Islands:

1. Rotary or Central Islands: Rotary or central Islands are special form
of at-grade intersections laid out for the movement of traffic in one
direction around a central traffic island.

• All the major 32 conflicts at an intersection namely the collision

between through and right-turn movements are converted into milder 8
conflicts namely merging and diverging.

• The vehicles entering the rotary are gently forced to move in a

clockwise direction in orderly fashion. Then they weave out of the
rotary to the desired direction.
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Topic –Traffic Islands

1. Rotary or Central Islands:

 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic –Traffic Islands

1. Rotary or Central Islands:

 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic –Traffic Islands

• Types of Traffic Islands:

1. Rotary or Central Islands:
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Topic –Traffic Islands

Suitability of Rotary or Central Islands:

•Rotary Islands are suitable when the traffic entering from all the four
approaches are relatively equal.

• A total
volume of about 3000 vehicles per hour can be considered as the
upper limiting case and a volume of 500 vehicles per hour is the lower
limit.

• Rotary Islands are very beneficial when the proportion of the right-turn
traffic is more than 30 percent.

• Rotary Islands are suitable when there are more than four approaches or
if there is no separate lanes available for right-turn traffic.

• Rotary Islands are ideally suited if the intersection geometry is complex.

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Topic –Traffic Islands

2. Channelizing Islands - These are designed to control and direct traffic

movement, usually turning. Channelizing islands
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Topic –Traffic Islands

3. Divisional Islands - These are designed to divide opposing or same

direction traffic streams, usually through movements.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic –Traffic Islands

4. Refuge islands - Pedestrian islands are provided to serve as safety

zones for the aid and protection of persons on foot. If a divisional island is
located in an urban area where pedestrians are present, portions of each
island can be considered a refuge island.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

Definition of Road Intersection: Road Intersection is where two or more

roads meet and or are the points of potential vehicle conflict.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

Types of Road Intersection: The Road intersections are divided in two

main types:
1. At grade Intersection: All roads are crossing at same level
2. Grade Separated intersections: All roads are nor crossing at same
level
•The classification of Road intersections on the basis of Design aspects
as per IRC guidelines:
1. Uncontrolled at-grade: These are the intersections between any two
roads with relatively lower volume of traffic.
2. Priority control: There is theoretically no delay occurring on the major
road and vehicles on the minor road are controlled by “GIVE WAY” or
“STOP” signs.
3. Time separated /Signalized intersection at grade: These are widely
seen road intersection with traffic signals.
4. Space separated/Grade separated intersection: These intersections
facilitates movement at different levels for vehicles and pedestrians.
Example of such type include intersections with flyovers, under pass
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

The classification of Road intersections on the basis of Road Geometry:

1. ‘T’ Intersection:
The two road alignments are crossing at
right angle to each other in T shape.
2. ‘Y’ Intersection:
While Merging or Diverging, the two road
alignments are crossing each other in Y shape.
3. Scissor Intersection (X shape):
In this type the two road alignments are
crossing each other in scissor (X) shape
4. Cross Intersection:
The Alignments of roads cross each other
at right angle in + shape
5. Staggered intersection:
The minor road alignment is on straight at
Road crossing. It is staggered at two locations
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

The classification of Road intersections on the basis of Traffic control:

1. Passive control:
At these intersections the TRAFFIC SIGNS and ROAD MARKINGS are
provided to control LOW intensity traffic.

2. Semi control:
At these intersections the TRAFFIC ISLANDS are provided to control
MODERATE intensity traffic.

3. Active control:
At these intersections the TRAFFIC SIGNALS or GRADE SEPERATED
INTERSECTIONS are provided to control HEAVY intensity traffic.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

• Intersection at Grade: All the areas/legs of the intersection join or cross at the same
level. The basic traffic manoeuvres such as diverging, merging and crossing are used in at-
grade intersections. It should facilitate the convenience, ease, and comfort of people
traversing the intersection while enhancing the safe and efficient movement of vehicular
traffic and pedestrians. The intersection must have the sufficient capacity to handle all the
volume of traffic flowing through it.
• Basic requirements of good intersection at grade:
• Sufficient Space to accommodate the Traffic Volume of peak period
• Uniformity and Simplicity
• Minimise Conflict Points
• Safety
• Alignment and Profile- The intersecting roads shall meet at or nearly at right angle.
• Encourage low vehicle speeds on the approaches to right-angle intersections
• Discourage undesirable traffic movements
• Provide road marking for road users
• Provide advance warning for change with Sign boards
• Illuminate intersections wherever possible
• Economical for construction
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Topic – Road Intersection

Intersection at Grade: The basic forms of at grade intersections are as

shown below:
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

•Grade separated intersections:

The grade-separated intersections are provided to separate the traffic in the
vertical grade.

• Over Pass (Fly over): if the road having

Major traffic is elevated to a higher grade for
further movement of traffic, then such
structures are called overpass.

• Under Pass (Tunnel pass): If the major road

is depressed to a lower level to cross another
By Means of an under bridge or tunnel,
it is called under-pass.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

Advantages of Grade Separation

• Grade separation eliminates the stopping of vehicles while crossing the
roads.
• It provides safety and reduces the risk of accidents.
• Speed-limits for grade-separated roads are generally higher hence, high
speeds can be maintained at intersections which...
• Grade separation can be provide for all likely angles of any two
intersecting roads.

Disadvantages of Grade Separation

• Grade separation and interchange construction require a lot of money
and land.
• Construction and design of grade separations and interchanges is
complicated and requires skilled professionals.
• Cloverleaf, stack interchange types may tender confusion for road users
while interchanging roads. Hence, the driver..
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

• Trumpet Interchange:
• Trumpet interchange is a popular form of three leg interchange. If one of
the legs of the interchange meets a highway at some angle but does not
cross it, then the interchange is called trumpet interchange.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

• Diamond interchange:
• Diamond interchange is a popular form of four-leg interchange found in
the urban locations where major and minor roads crosses. The important
feature of this interchange is that it can be designed even if the major road
is relatively narrow.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Road Intersection

• Clover leaf interchange:

• It is also a four leg interchange and is used when two highways of high
volume and speed intersect each other with considerable turning
movements. The main advantage of cloverleaf intersection is that it
provides complete separation of traffic. In addition, high speed at
intersections can be achieved. However, the disadvantage is that large area
of land is required. Therefore, cloverleaf interchanges are provided mainly
in rural areas.
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Topic – Segregation of traffic

•Definition: The Process of separation of Traffic for easy flow and safe
movement of different vehicles according to their speed at space or time.

• Purpose of Segregation of traffic:

• To increase the traffic Capacity
• To reduce the accidents
• To regulate traffic at intersection
•To understand the current traffic situations
• To reduce the traffic congestion
• To provide safe crossing modes for pedestrians

• Types of Segregation:
1. Vehicle –Vehicle segregation
2. Pedestrian – Vehicle segregation
3. Time segregation
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Topic – Segregation of traffic

Vehicle –Vehicle segregation:
➢ Separation of Slow moving vehicles like Cycle, Hand cart, Bullock Cart etc from
main Highway
➢ For this purpose the separate lane is provided according to TVS data.

Pedestrian – Vehicle segregation: It is further subdivided into:

➢ Longitudinal Separation
➢ Lateral Separation

Longitudinal Separation:
➢ In this case the foot path are provided parallel to road.

Lateral Separation:
➢ In case of lateral separation the provision of Zebra Crossing, Foot over bridge,
Pedestrian Sub ways and Skyways are provided for crossing the road.

Time Segregation:
➢ Heavy vehicles are not allowed in peak hours in busy area.
 TRAFFIC STUDIES

Topic – Segregation of traffic

• The selection of Lateral separation mode depends on the intensity of

Pedestrian Traffic.
• If intensity of pedestrian traffic is low the to cross the road within RED
time of signal Zebra crossings are sufficient.
• If intensity of Pedestrian Traffic is high then Foot over bridge or
Pedestrian Subways or Sky Walkways are provided as shown in pictures.

Subway Foot Over Bridge

Sky Walkway Zebra Crossing