Memita, Kenji A September 2, 2024

CEHWRE30 CIV226 Engr. Annthony R. Pantaleon

Homework No. 2
1. What is channelization on highways and what are the principles followed in the design?

Channelization is the separation or regulation of conflicting traffic movements into specific paths
using traffic islands or pavement markings to facilitate orderly vehicle and pedestrian movement.
Proper channelization increases capacity, provides positive guidance to motorists, improves
operational efficiency, and reduces crash frequencies. Improper channelization, however, can have
the opposite effect and may be worse than no channelization at all. Separating left-turn movements
from through traffic is a common use of channelization.

Channelization of intersections aims to improve traffic flow and safety by confining vehicle paths so
that no more than two paths cross at any point, controlling the angles and locations where vehicles
merge, diverge, or cross. This design reduces the paved area, minimizing vehicle wandering and
conflict zones, while providing clear movement indications and prioritizing predominant traffic flows.
It includes pedestrian refuge areas and separate storage lanes for turning vehicles, enhancing the
visibility of traffic control devices and managing prohibited turns. Vehicle speeds are also somewhat
restricted to ensure smoother operation.

Principles to follow in the design of a channelized intersection:

o Motorists should not face more than one decision at a time.
o Unnatural paths involving turns greater than 90 degrees or sharp reverse curves should be
avoided.
o Channelization should keep vehicles within well-defined paths that minimize conflict. Merging
and weaving areas should be as long as conditions allow.
o If the distance to a downstream driveway or intersection is less than desirable for merging or
weaving, and if pedestrians are present, turning roadways should be controlled with yield, stop,
or signal control, and the intersection angle should be greater than 60 degrees.
o Traffic streams that intersect without merging and weaving should do so at angles as close to
90 degrees as practical, within a range of 60 to 120 degrees.
o The angle of intersection between merging traffic streams should provide adequate sight
distance.
o Points of crossing or conflict should be carefully studied to determine if they should be
separated or consolidated, with appropriate control devices added for efficient operation.
o Refuge areas for turning vehicles should be provided separately from through traffic.
o Islands used for channelization should not interfere with or obstruct bicycle lanes at
intersections.
o Prohibited turns should be blocked by channelizing islands whenever practical.
o The location of essential control devices should be established as part of the design of a
channelized intersection.

2. What are channelizing islands and its purpose on our highways?

An island is a defined area between traffic lanes used for control of traffic movements. Islands also
provide an area for pedestrian refuge and traffic control devices. Within an intersection, a median
or an outer separation is also considered an island. It may range from an area delineated by a raised
curb to a pavement area marked out by paint or thermoplastic markings. Where traffic entering an
 Memita, Kenji A September 2, 2024
CEHWRE30 CIV226 Engr. Annthony R. Pantaleon
intersection is directed into definite paths by islands, the design feature is termed a channelized
intersection.

Channelizing islands are usually included in intersection design for one or more of the following
purposes:
◦ Separation of conflicts
◦ Control of angle of conflict
◦ Reduction in excessive pavement areas
◦ Regulation of traffic and indication of proper use of intersection
◦ Arrangements to favor a predominant turning movement
◦ Protection of pedestrians
◦ Protection and storage of turning and crossing vehicles
◦ Location of traffic control devices

Islands generally are either elongated or triangular in shape and are normally situated in areas
unused for vehicle paths. Islands should be located and designed to offer little obstruction to
vehicles, be relatively inexpensive to build and maintain, occupy a minimum of roadway space, and
be commanding enough that motorists will not drive over them. It is desirable to provide a common
geometric design for all intersections along a route.

3. Draw and define the different types of railway turnouts.

A fundamental characteristic of railways is the one degree of freedom of the movement of the rail
vehicle on the track. However, trains must have the possibility to change course from one track to
another. This is realized by “switches and crossings", defined as the equipment and parts through
which the direction of movement of a rail vehicle can be changed without interrupting its course.

Switches and crossings take a great variety of forms. In spite of their apparent complexity, they can
be distinguished into two basic forms, and a third, combining the two:
• Simple or multiple turnouts, allowing a track to be spilt in two and the moving rail vehicle
to change course.
• Crossings, where two tracks meet at grade with no change course.
• Turnout Crossing, combining functions of turnouts and crossings

Turnouts and crossings take a variety of forms depending on the intended change if course. The
main types include:

Simple Symmetrical One-sided Double Turnout

Standard Turnout
Turnout – one track successively split
- – one track is split in two and
– one track split in two and into three tracks on the same
the main track remains
both tracks curving outward. side and with the main track
rectilinear.
remaining rectilinear.
 Memita, Kenji A September 2, 2024
CEHWRE30 CIV226 Engr. Annthony R. Pantaleon

Two-sided Double Turnout

Diamond Crossing Single Slip
– one track symmetrically
– two tracks meet with no – two tracks meet and their
split into three tracks:
change if course course can be changed from
a middle rectilinear track and
one track to the other in one
two symmetrical side tracks.
directions.

Single Crossover Double Crossover

Double Slip
– a track configuration with – a track configuration with
– two tracks meet and their
two turnouts that allows a four turnouts and two
course can be changed from
train to switch from one crossings, enabling trains to
one track to the other in both
parallel track to another. switch between two parallel
directions.
tracks in either direction.

Track “Fan” with

Series of Successive Turnouts
successive track splittings
– one track is successively split into several
– a technique used in depots and marshalling
tracks
yards

4. Based on UIC classification, what are the classifications of railway subgrades?

Railway subgrade is particularly important in ensuring that track quality reaches the standard
necessary for the safe and comfortable operation of trains. Railway authorities make serious efforts
to improve passenger comfort. These efforts, however, concentrate usually on track superstructure
and often disregard the fact that many problems appearing at the track superstructure level are
traceable to the subgrade, rather than to the superstructure.

In accordance with the UIC classification, the behavior of the subgrade may macroscopically be
characterized by and classified as follows.
• S3 – Low settlements and very good support of train loads.
• S2 – Medium behavior in settlements and in supporting train loads.
• S1 – Large settlements and non-satisfactory support of train loads.
• S0 – Extensive settlements and a very bad performance in supporting loads.
• R – To the above classes of subgrade should be added the case of a subgrade composed
of rock of satisfactory strength. The quality of such subgrade is designated as R. However,
more recent UIC classifications include the formerly designated rock subgrade (R) within the
subgrade of good quality (S3).