An arterial road or arterial thoroughfare is a high-capacity urban road that sits below freeways/motorways on the road hierarchy in terms of traffic flow and speed.[1][2] The primary function of an 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. Because of their relatively high accessibility, many major roads face large amounts of land use and urban development, making them significant urban places.[3]
In traffic engineering hierarchy, an arterial road delivers traffic between collector roads and freeways. For new arterial roads, intersections are often reduced to increase traffic flow. In California, arterial roads are usually spaced every half mile, and have intersecting collector(s) and streets. Some arterial roads, characterized by a small fraction of intersections and driveways compared to most arterial roads, are also considered to be expressways in some countries and US states.[citation needed]
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. 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, as per the aforementioned "Traffic Engineering Handbook".[4]
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, signalizedat-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 50 mph (50 and 80 km/h), 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 freeways 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 can range from four lanes to ten or even more; either as a dual carriageway or sharing a common center lane, such as a contraflow lane or as a central turning lane.
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.[5] 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.[6]
^Neuman, Timothy R. (1992). "Roadway Geometric Design". In Institute of Traffic Engineers (ed.). Traffic Engineering Handbook. Prentice Hall. p. 155. ISBN978-0-13-926791-8.
^Hogan, C. Michael (September 1973). "Analysis of highway noise". Journal of Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. Vol. 2, no. 3 (Biomedical and Life Sciences and Earth and Environmental Science Issue). pp. 387–392. doi:10.1007/BF00159677. ISSN 0049-6979.
External links
The dictionary definition of arterial road at Wiktionary
May 21, 2023
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An arterial road or arterial thoroughfare is a high capacity urban road that sits below freeways motorways on the road hierarchy in terms of traffic flow and speed 1 2 The primary function of an 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 Because of their relatively high accessibility many major roads face large amounts of land use and urban development making them significant urban places 3 Page Mill Road in Palo Alto California United States is a typical arterial road in a suburban area this also has a bike lane In traffic engineering hierarchy an arterial road delivers traffic between collector roads and freeways For new arterial roads intersections are often reduced to increase traffic flow In California arterial roads are usually spaced every half mile and have intersecting collector s and streets Some arterial roads characterized by a small fraction of intersections and driveways compared to most arterial roads are also considered to be expressways in some countries and US states citation needed Contents 1 Definition 2 Development 3 Specifications 4 Environmental issues 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDefinition EditTheTraffic Engineering Handbookdescribes Arterials as being either principal or minor Both classes serve to carry longer distance flows between important centers of activity 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 as per the aforementioned Traffic Engineering Handbook 4 Development EditThe 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 EditIn 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 50 mph 50 and 80 km h 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 freeways 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 can range from four lanes to ten or even more either as a dual carriageway or sharing a common center lane such as a contraflow lane or as a central turning lane Environmental issues EditMain articles Roadway air dispersion model and 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 5 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 6 See also EditGrid plan History of urban planning StroadReferences Edit Road Function Classifications PDF Report U S Federal Highway Administration November 2000 Mobility and transport Road classification European Commission McLeod Sam Curtis Carey 2019 Contested urban streets Place traffic and governance conflicts of potential activity corridors Cities 88 222 234 doi 10 1016 j cities 2018 11 002 S2CID 159002874 Neuman Timothy R 1992 Roadway Geometric Design In Institute of Traffic Engineers ed Traffic Engineering Handbook Prentice Hall p 155 ISBN 978 0 13 926791 8 Roadway air dispersion model United States Environmental Protection Agency Hogan C Michael September 1973 Analysis of highway noise Journal of Water Air amp Soil Pollution Vol 2 no 3 Biomedical and Life Sciences and Earth and Environmental Science Issue pp 387 392 doi 10 1007 BF00159677 ISSN 0049 6979 External links Edit The dictionary definition of arterial road at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arterial road amp oldid 1092347327, wikipedia, wiki, book, 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