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Classification of Road Network

• Roads are basically classified as;

Functional Classification of Roads – Administrative Classification and
– functional classifications.

Administrative Functional
RDA Mobility
PRDA Accessibility
CMC etc.
P. R.D. Fernando
Chartered Civil Engineer
B.Sc.(Hons), M.Eng. C.Eng., MIE(SL)
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Administrative Classification Functional Classification

• Administrative classification assigns road ownership, • Functional classification is the process by which streets and
• For administration, countries have organized their roads into highways are grouped into classes, or systems, according
hierarchical networks according to their main purposes; to the character of service they are intended to provide.
• Two primary categories of service are provided by
– National roads - for roads linking the capital to provincial roadway systems;
centers, principal cities and other centers of national  Accessibility
importance.  Mobility

– Urban roads - for roads and streets serving transport

demands within cities and towns;

– Rural roads - for local transport demands in rural areas.

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Functions of the Road

Accessibility and Mobility

• Mobility - is measured in respect to ability of traffic • Provides mobility

(persons) to pass through a defined area in a acceptable
way and is most affected by the effectiveness of through
facilities. (speed, safety, comfort)

• Accessibility - is measured in terms of the road system’s • Provides accessibility

capability to provide access to and between land use
activities within in a defined area and is relies heavily on
transfer facilities (Parking, public transit stops, loading
zones).

• Transportation systems should be provided both mobility

and accessibility. • Provides both
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Highway Classification
Conflict between Accessibility & Mobility

• The essential problem for traffic engineers is that the • To minimize conflicts between Accessibility & Mobility, it is
specific design aspects that provide for good access. need to develop roadway system in a hierarchal manner.
• But, good access tends to retard through movement • All highway system involve a hierarchal classification by
(Mobility). the mix of access and mobility functions provided.
• Four major functional classes of highway may be
identified;
 Major Arterial
Thus, the two major services  Minor Arterial
provided by roadway  Collector
system are often in conflict.  Local Street

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Minor arterial (Some A,B – Class Road)

Principal arterial (Expressways)
 Provides for 100% through movement (mobility).  Primarily for through movement (mobility), but permit some
access to adjoining lands.
 No direct access to adjoining land uses is permitted.

 Normally connects major cities and towns.  Interconnect with principal arterial
 Carry significant amounts of intra-area travel (Normally two roads (Expressways).
provinces).  Provide service to trips of moderate
 Roads serving the longest trip desires. length at a lower level of travel
mobility than principal arterials
 Highest traffic volume corridors.
 Distribute traffic between residential
 High LOS.
areas. Industrial areas, town centers
and feed the principal arterials.
 Moderate LOS
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Collector (C – Class Road) Local (D & E – Class Road)

 The collector is an intermediate category beteen minor  Provide access to adjoining land uses with through
arterial and local street. movement only a minor function.

 Provides land access and traffic circulation within  All facilities not on one of the higher
residential neighborhoods, commercial, and industrial systems (low speed, low comfortable etc)
areas  Provide access to settlements & villages.
 Distributes trips from the arterials (A & B Class) through  Serves as access to the higher order
systems (A, B & C – Class)
these areas to their ultimate destination
 Through traffic movement is deliberately
 Collects traffic from local streets and channels it to the discouraged
arterial system (A & B Class)

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Hierarchy of Roadway Classifications Hierarchy of Roadway Classifications

Collector

Expressway

Local Road

Arterial

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Hierarchy of Roadway Classifications Functional Classification

Roadway Class % Through Service
 The typical trip starts on a local street . The driver seeks the Major Arterial 100
closest collector road available, using it to access the nearest
Minor Arterial 60 - 80
arterial. If the trip is long enough, a expressway or limited
Collector 40 - 60
access facility is wanted.
Local Street 0 - 40
 At the destination end of the trip, the process is repeated in
reverse order.
 Depending on the length of the trip and specific characteristics Locals

of the area, not all component types of facilities need be

included in every trip. Locals
Collectors

Collectors

15 Arterial Highway 16
Arterial Highway

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Functionality Classification Road Classification

Relations between functionally and administratively classified road

Desire Lines of Travel Road Network Provided
Classification Functional Classification of Roads Administrative Classification of Roads
Local Farms Expressways Principal arterial roads National expressways
Locals
Principal arterial roads National roads (some A,B class)
National roads (A, B class), Provincial roads,
Minor arterial roads
Collectors Municipal roads (CMC)
General Roads
Village Collector/distributor roads Provincial roads, Municipal roads,
Local roads District roads

City City
Arterial Highway

Town
Road Network Planning
From OD Survey
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Benefits from Functional Classification Road Network in Sri Lanka

• Demarcation of public responsibilities in the provision and standard

of public roads.
• Assignment of a road’s ownership and responsibility for its
National Highways------------------------------ 12,210 km
management and financing.
• Class “A” Roads - 4215 km
• System (Network) planning & Designing. • Class “B” Roads - 7995 km
• Assistance to road users for selecting a travel route from origin to • Expressways “E” - 170 km
destination.
• Assignment of (uniform) minimum standards, including permissible Provincial Roads (Class C,D & E)----------------- 15,532 km
vehicle axle loads, weights and dimensions.
Pradeshiya Sabah/Local Government Roads--- 84,380 km
• Determination of the size of the public road network and its quality
Other Sectors---------------------------------------- 4,000 km
commensurate with what the country can afford at the time.
(Mainly Irrigation, Mahaweli & Estate roads)
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Road Network in Sri Lanka

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