a slideshow about types of roads and their classification for transportation engineering course.

1. Types of roads
Khaled Al shami

2. introduction
Roads can be classified in many ways. The most common classification is
based on speed and accessibility.
The classification standards differ from a country to another.
This presentation will be based on Australian classification.

3. Free ways or express ways
A free way is a highway with separated lanes, traffic doesn’t stop in free ways.
Interchanges (ramps) are used to enter and exit freeways.
Freeways have strict classification rules :
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Multi-Lane, divided road.
No cross traffic.
No stop lights or stop signs.
No parking.
Highest speed limits, with a minimum speed limits sometimes.
Limited access
Access restrictions like :
-No pedestrians
-No bicycles
Entrance ramps are typically designed with an acceleration zone so that cars can accelerate up to
freeway speeds before merging into freeway traffic.
Exit ramps are typically designed with a deceleration zone so that traffic can exit the freeway at
freeway speeds without obstructing traffic, then have sufficient distance to slow down before any
turns.

4. Major Highway
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High speeds almost like freeway speeds.
Divided lanes.
Turning traffic is typically limited to specified turn
lanes or freeway style ramps to minimize
obstructions to thru traffic.
Partially limited access with few minor streets
intersecting with this road.
Can have stoplights or freeway style interchanges.
No stop signs.
Pedestrian crossings may be limited.
Local business access is often restricted to frontage
roads or other streets.

5. Minor Highway
• A high way that is between
residential areas, Or in rural areas.
• Can have divided or not divided
lanes.
• Can have stop lights.

6. Arterials
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It is a general term denoting a street primarily meant
for through traffic
usually on a continuous route. They are generally
divided highways with fully or partially controlled
access. Parking, loading and unloading activities are
usually restricted and regulated. Pedestrians are
allowed to cross only at intersections/designated
pedestrian crossings.
arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector
roads to freeways or expressways, and between urban
centres at the highest level of service possible. As
such, many arteries are limited-access roads, or
feature restrictions on private access.
serve to carry longer-distance flows between
important centers of activity.
They are often hazardous to people on foot.

7. collector road or distributor road
• These are streets intended for collecting and distributing traffic to and from
local streets.
• also it provides access to arterial streets.
• Normally full access is provided on these streets .
• Speed limits are typically 30-55 km/h.

8. Local streets
• Its streets that gain access to properties around it.
• Its designed for low volume traffic an small capacity.
• It has full access and slow speeds.

9. Local street
Collector
street
Arterial
street
Freeway
highway
expressway

10. freeway
highway
expressway
arterial
collector
local
Trip lenght
long
long
long
Long to
moderate
Less than ½ mile
Less than ¼ mile
Traffic volume
high
high
high
High to
moderate
Moderate to
light
Light
7500-20000 minor arterial
1500-2500 for
neighbourhood collector
<1500 vehicle
>20000 major arterial
2500-7500 major collector
Access control
full
High to
moderate
High to
moderate
High to low
low
none
Lane division
Divided lanes
Divided or not
Divided lanes
Divided or not
Divided or not
Not divided
Pedestrian
crossing
N/A
available
N/A
available
available
available
Stop lights
N/A
possible
possible
possible
available
possible
Stop signs
N/A
possible
N/A
possible
possible
possible
Speed limit
High speed
High to
moderate speed
High to
moderate speed
High to
moderate speed
Moderate to low
low

11. Mobility vs Accessibility :

12. Thank you for your time