Print this page Roadway Cross-Sections
Gregory J. Taylor, P.E.
Course Outline
This six-hour course focuses on the geometric design of cross-sections for modern roads and highways. Its contents are intended to serve as guidance and not as an absolute standard or rule.
The course objective is to give engineers and designers an in-depth look at the principles to be considered when selecting and designing roadway cross-sections. Upon course completion, you should be familiar with the general guidelines for roadway cross-section geometric design.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the participant will understand:
- Typical roadway cross-section elements;
- Components of the traveled way;
- Characteristics of roadway shoulders;
- Curb categories and usage;
- Rumble strips;
- Design and application of on-street parking;
- Typical applications for drainage channels;
- Various types of traffic barriers;
- Noise reduction design;
- Design and application of pedestrian facilities;
- Types of bus turnouts;
- Bicycle facilities; and
- Park-and-Ride facilities.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for civil engineers and contractors.
Benefit for Attendee
Attendees of this course will be given an in-depth look at design principles to be considered for roadway cross-sections.
Course Introduction
Roadway cross-sections are one of the fundamental three-dimensional features for geometric design. Combined, these elements contribute to the roadway’s operational quality and safety by striving to provide a smooth-flowing, crash-free facility. This course will show the participant how to use the A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (also known as the “Green Book”) Chapter 4 - Cross-Section Elements to plan and design effective roadway cross-sections.
Course Content
The course content is contained in the following PDF file:
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Course Summary
This course focused on the geometric design of cross-sections for modern roads and highways. The participant should now be familiar with the general concepts for designing roadway cross-sections.
The overall objective of this course was to give engineers and designers an in-depth look at roadway cross-section selection and design principles. A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (also known as the “Green Book”) published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is considered to be the primary guidance for U.S. roadway design. For this course, Chapter 4 - Cross-Section Elements was used exclusively for fundamental roadway geometric design principles.
The contents of this course were intended to serve as guidance and not as an absolute rule. It was written to help you learn to design roadway cross-sections more effectively.
Related Links and References
The following reference books were used by the author in the preparation of this course:
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials www.transportation.com
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
