Arterial road

Definition

The* Traffic Engineering Handbook *describes "Arterials" as being either principal or minor. Both classes serve to carry longer-distance flows between important centers of activity. The handbook also states that arterials are laid out as the backbone of a traffic network and should be designed to afford the highest level of service, as is practical.

Development

The construction and development of arterial roads is achieved through two methods. By far the most common is the upgrading of an existing right-of-way during subdivision development. When existing structures prohibit the widening of an existing road however, bypasses are often constructed. Because of the placement and general continuity of arterial road corridors, sewers, water mains, conduits and other infrastructure are placed beneath or beside the roadbed.

Specifications

In North America, signalized at-grade intersections are used to connect arterials to collector roads and other local roads (except where the intersecting road is a minor side street, in which case a stop sign is used instead). In Europe, large roundabouts are more commonly seen at the busier junctions. Speed limits are typically between 30 and, depending on the density of use of the surrounding development. In school zones, speeds may be further reduced; likewise, in sparsely developed or rural areas, speeds may be increased. In western Canada, where highways are scarce compared to the rest of North America, flashing early-warning amber lights are sometimes placed ahead of traffic lights on heavy signalized arterial roads so the speed limits can be raised to speeds of over 80 km/h. These warning lights are commonly found on high-speed arterial roads in British Columbia.

The width of arterial roads ranges from four lanes to ten or more.

Environmental issues

Main article: Roadway air dispersion model, Roadway noise

As with other roadway environmental consequences derive from arterial roadways, including air pollution generation, noise pollution and surface runoff of water pollutants. Air pollution generation from arterials can be rather concentrated, since traffic volumes can be relatively high, and traffic operating speeds are often low to moderate. Sound levels can also be considerable due to moderately high traffic volumes characteristic of arterials, and also due to considerable braking and acceleration that often occur on arterials that are heavily signalized.

References

References

1. FHWA. (November 2000). "Road Function Classifications". FHWA.
2. "Road classification". European Commission.
3. (2019). "Contested urban streets: Place, traffic and governance conflicts of potential activity corridors". Cities.
4. Neuman, Timothy R.. (1992). "Traffic Engineering Handbook". Prentice Hall.
5. "Roadway air dispersion model". United States [[United States Environmental Protection Agency.
6. Hogan, C. Michael. (September 1973). "Analysis of highway noise".