Roadway Geometric Design

This course is the second in a series of three volumes that summarizes and highlights the geometric design process for modern roads and highways. Subjects covered include: crosssection elements (lane widths, shoulders, roadside design, medians, drainage channels); local roads; collector roads; rural and urban arterials; and freeways. The contents of this document are intended to serve as guidance and not as an absolute standard or rule.

When you complete this course, you should be familiar with the general guidelines for roadway cross-sections and different road types. The course objective is to give engineers and designers an in-depth look at the principles to be considered when selecting and designing roads.

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) publishes and approves information on geometric roadway design for use by individual state transportation agencies. The majority of today’s geometric design research is sponsored and directed by AASHTO and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) through the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)