Median Intersection Design For Rural High Speed Divided Highways

This report describes common safety issues at median intersections on rural divided highways and presents innovative geometric and operational treatments for addressing those issues. Ten case studies illustrate how they have been applied in the field. The report includes recommendations for modifications to the AASHTO A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (Green Book) and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 794: Median Cross-Section Design for Rural Divided Highways provides guidelines for designing typical cross-sections for medians on new and existing rural freeways and divided highways."--Publisher's description.

This synthesis report will be of interest to officials and staff of municipal, regional, and statewide transportation agencies responsible for roadway design and traffic control. It will be of special interest to those concerned with intersections and driveways on divided highways where larger vehicles encounter narrow medians. It will also be of interest to other professionals who interact with these agencies to mitigate such problems. This report presents state-of-the-practice information about current median design policies and practices, describes the traffic operational and safety problems encountered in designing for larger vehicles at divided highway intersections, and identifies alternative improvement techniques that can be used in new construction or reconstruction projects to avoid introducing traffic operational and safety problems. This TRB report focuses on 10 alternative cross sections widely used on arterial highways in urban, suburban, and rural environment.

"TRBs National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 737: Design Guidance for High-Speed to Low-Speed Transitions Zones for Rural Highways presents guidance for designing the transition from a high-speed rural highway to a lower-speed section, typically approaching a small town. The report includes a methodology for assessing these highway sections and a catalog of potential treatments for addressing problems."--Publisher's description.