Tag Archives: road design

Assessing Recycled Pavement for Use in Road Design

Cold recycling road pavement materials into new road construction is a cost-effective and sustainable practice. However, the properties of these materials must be characterized to adequately design pavement structures. This project developed a framework and tool for transportation agencies to estimate the key material properties of cold recycled materials incorporated into road designs.

Continue reading Assessing Recycled Pavement for Use in Road Design →

New Project: Roadside Feature Placement and Pedestrian Safety on Low and Intermediate Speed Roads

Guidelines for designing and placing roadside features have traditionally focused on automobile safety on higher-speed roads. Research has also shown feature placement can have safety benefits for pedestrians and bicyclists on lower-speed roads.

Continue reading New Project: Roadside Feature Placement and Pedestrian Safety on Low and Intermediate Speed Roads →

Measuring the Effects of Road Features on Driving Speeds

The Complete Streets approach to roadway design uses site characteristics to create a safer, more accessible environment for all road users. New research demonstrates that roadway design features have a measurable impact on driving speeds. The development of speed reduction factors (SRFs) that estimate the impact of road features on speed reduction provides a data-driven approach to highway design. 

Continue reading Measuring the Effects of Road Features on Driving Speeds →

Design Standards for Unobstructed Sight Lines at Left-Turn Lanes

Positive offset left-turn lanes are one solution to improving left-turning motorists’ visibility of opposing through and right-turning traffic.

MnDOT is revising its Road Design Manual and seeks to incorporate more information, policies and design guidance regarding positive offset left-turn lanes.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin’s Traffic Operations and Safety Laboratory reviewed safety performance data from research that examined left-turn offsets. They also consulted 23 state DOT road design guides to understand the extent of available guidance.

Continue reading Design Standards for Unobstructed Sight Lines at Left-Turn Lanes →