South Africa COTO Committee of Transport Officials TRH 26 South African Road Classification and Access Management Manual Version 1.0 August 2012 Committee of Transport Officials TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGHWAYS TRH 26 South African Road Classification and Access Management Manual Version 1.0 August 2012 Committee of Transport Officials Compiled under auspices of the: Roads Coordinating Body (RCB) of the Committee of Transport Officials (COTO) Published by: The South African National Roads Agency Limited PO Box 415, Pretoria, 0001 Disclaimer of Liability The document is provided “as is” without any warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. No warranty or representation are made, either expressed or implied, with respect to fitness of use and no responsibility will be accepted by the Committee or the authors for any losses, damages or claims of any kind, including, without limitation, direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or any other loss or damage that may be arise from the use of the document. All rights reserved No part of this document may be changed without permission and approval of the Roads Coordinating Body (RCB). However, permission is granted to freely use, copy, print, reproduce or distribute this document. Technical Recommendations for Highways: The Technical Recommendations for Highways consists of a series of publications that describe recommended practice for various aspects related to highway engineering. The documents are based on South African research and experience and have the support and approval of the Committee of Transport Officials (COTO). The documents are primarily aimed at ensuring uniform practice throughout South Africa. Users of the documents must ensure that the latest editions or versions of the document are used. When a document is referred to in other documents, the reference should be to the latest edition or version of the document. Any comments on the document will be welcomed and should be forwarded to the publisher. When appropriate, such comments may be incorporated in future editions of the document. Synopsis: This manual provides guidance to National, Provincial and Municipal spheres of government on the functional classification of roads and the methodology according to which such classification must be undertaken. It also gives guidance on how a road must be managed in order to function effectively in accordance with its classification. This manual establishes a uniform and integrated classification system for the country, which will underpin and inform the planning, development and management of roads. It includes the following important aspects: • The benefits of functional road classification and access management; • The functional classification system according to which roads are classified; • The methodology according to which such classification must be undertaken; • Management requirements (access management) to ensure that the various authorities’ roads can function as intended; and • Retrofit measures that can be implemented in situations where roads are not serving their intended function. In summary, this manual provides detailed descriptions, explanations and methodologies to determine the functional classification of a road as well as manage accesses in the road system. Table of Contents ITEM PAGE Preface i Definitions ii 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Background 1 1.2 Overview of the Manual 2 2 Benefits of Road Classification And Access Management 3 2.1 Introduction 3 2.2 Improved capacity and traffic flow 3 2.3 Improved road safety 4 2.4 Efficient use of scarce resources 5 2.5 More efficient public transport 5 2.6 Equality and equity 5 2.7 Certainty 6 2.8 Land use and transport integration 6 2.9 Social benefits 7 2.10 Environmental quality 7 2.11 Economic benefits 7 3 Road Classification Concepts 10 3.1 Introduction 10 3.2 Accessibility 11 3.3 Mobility and access roads 11 3.4 Mobility and access functions 12 3.5 Earlier functional classification systems 13 3.6 The six class functional road classification system 17 3.7 Administrative classification 17 3.8 Route number classification 18 3.9 Road Traffic Signs Manual classification 18 3.10 Geometric classification 19 3.11 Naming hierarchy 19 3.12 Public transport classification 19 3.13 Super routes 20 3.14 Classification for pavement management systems 20 3.15 Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Classification 20 4 Road Classification Criteria 21 4.1 Introduction 21 4.2 Functional road classification criteria 21 4.3 Rural and urban roads 23 4.4 Rural road classification system 23 4.5 Urban road classification system 26 4.6 Additional considerations 31 5 Road Classification Methodology 33 5.1 Introduction 33 5.2 Future year classification 33 5.3 Required information 33 5.4 Rural/Urban transitions 34 5.5 Rural road classification methodology 34 5.6 Urban road classification methodology 35 6 Access Management Concepts 37 6.1 Introduction 37 6.2 Access types 38 6.3 Full intersections and accesses 38 6.4 Partial intersections and accesses 40 6.5 Marginal intersections 41 6.6 U-turn facilities 42 7 Access Management Requirements 43 7.1 Introduction 43 7.2 Provision of access to property 43 7.3 Multiple accesses 44 7.4 Service stations 44 7.5 Rural road typology and intersection control 44 7.6 Urban road typology and intersection control 46 7.7 Intersection spacing and access separation definition 47 7.9 Intersection spacing considerations 48 7.10 Spacing requirements by class 49 7.11 Access separation requirements 49 7.12 Parking 50 7.13 Route numbering requirements 51 7.14 Variance in requirements 51 8 Access Management Typical Features 53 8.1 Introduction 53 8.2 Road access management plans and frameworks 53 8.3 Design speeds 53 8.4 Road reserve width 54 8.5 Pedestrian and cyclists 54 8.6 Public transport facilities 55 8.7 Traffic calming 55 9 Access Management Implementation 57 9.1 Introduction 57 9.2 Implementing access management 57 10 Retrofitting 59 10.1 Introduction 59 10.2 Access relocation or closure 59 10.3 Intersection and access control 60 10.4 Median provision 60 10.5 Parking 60 10.6 Supporting road network 61 10.7 One-way systems 61 10.8 Retrofit techniques in residential areas 61 11 References 63 List of Figures ITEM PAGE Figure 1 Desire Lines of Travel 10 Figure 2 Highway Functional Classification (AASHO, 1964) 13 Figure 3 Movement versus Access (Brindle 1987, 1996) 14 Figure 4 Mobility versus Access Function Based on Road Length (COTO, 2005) 15 Figure 5 Mobility versus Access Function Based on Traffic (COTO, 2005) 15 Figure 6 Road Functional Classification adopted for this Manual 16 Figure 7 Fundamental intersection types 39 Figure 8 Partial and Marginal Access Options 40 Figure 9 Access Spacing and Separation 47 List of Tables ITEM PAGE Table 1 Minimum Spacing between Rural Freeway Interchanges (GDPTRW, 2004) 48 Table 2 Minimum Spacing between Urban Freeway Interchanges (GDPTRW, 2004) 48 Table 3 Minimum Spacing Requirements for full Intersections on Mobility Roads 49 Table 4 Minimum Spacing Recommendations for Intersections on Access Streets 49 Table 5 Minimum Access Separation for Class U2 and U3 Roads 50 Table 6 Route Numbering Conventions 51 Table 7 Design speeds (km/h) for different road classes 54 Table 8 Typical Road Reserve Widths (m) for Different Road Classes 54 List of Annexures and Additional Tables ITEM Annexure A: Traffic signal co-ordination requirements and leeway Table A1: Classification by Various South African Authorities Table A2: Classification by Various International Authorities Table B: Rural Functional Road Classification Table C: Urban Functional Road Classification Table D: Rural Access Management Requirements and Typical Features Table E: Urban Access Management Requirements and Typical Features Road Classification and Access Management Preface This Manual is the official requirement for the road classification and access management of the South African road network. It provides guidance to National, Provincial and Municipal spheres of government on the functional classification of roads and the methodology according to which such classification must be undertaken. It also gives guidance to how roads must be managed in order to function effectively in accordance with their classification. The document builds and expands on the classification system of the Road Infrastructure Strategic Framework for South Africa (RISFSA) of the South African Department of Transport (DOT, 2006) and supersedes both the draft National Guidelines for Road Access Management in South Africa (COTO, 2005) and the Manual for the Redefinition of the South African Road Network (DOT, 2008). Road authorities in South Africa have an obligation to plan, design, construct and maintain the road network, to protect the public investment in the road infrastructure, to ensure the continued functionality of the transportation system and to promote the safety of traffic on the road network. Authorities also have the obligation to provide a reliable, effective, efficient and integrated transport system that supports the sustainable economic and social development of the country. This Manual provides guidance on the functional classification and access management of roads. It establishes a uniform and integrated classification system for the country, which will underpin and inform the planning, development and management of roads. It includes the following important aspects: • The benefits of functional road classification and access management; • The functional classification system according to which roads