Unit 5: Group Project

Lecture Note: Supplementary Note 2

Allocated Learning hours: 45

CIVIL ENGINEERING BATCH - 01 (FULL TIME) 3RD SEMESTER

Dr. Lalith Rajapakse/Dr. Lesly Ekanayake

3.6 External Circulation and Services/Accessibility Features
3.6.1 General Introduction

The access system and general circulation pattern of a

new development will generally be one of the most
critical aspects of its master plan and initially needs to be
looked at as a complete entity.
Possible modes of transport to serve the site needs:
• Road transport, incl. small-scale electric vehicles
• Rail links
• Rivers and canals Not often/widely used
• Air (for export markets)
• Non-vehicular transport (pedestrians) A two-way residential frontage road running
parallel to a motorway [USA]
3.6.2 Road patterns, Entry/Exit Points & Parking
• Segregating the in-coming and out-going traffic, usually
by adopting a one-way circulation system
• Provision of a continuous peripheral road system or
"ring road", with the buildings located within the centre
of the block

Points to note:
 By using minor loop roads or branches, the size of the
area served by the ring road can be increased and
individual facilities can be directly served by the road Multi-level access roads: Ring road access to
system. New Bangkok Swarnabhumi Airport, Thailand.
3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.2 Road Patterns

Points to note Contd.:

 Ring road approach enables drivers to search for
parking spaces and to correct mistakes.
 Hierarchy of roads should be established, reflecting the
different intensity of use of facilities.
 Junctions and intersections between different grades of
roads will need to be looked at in detail, particularly in
respect of sight-lines and the spacing between
junctions.
 Grid road patterns may be used, particularly for large
scale markets, but loop systems are more suitable for
simpler layouts.
 Better to avoid any crossroads within the layout and to
make as many of the junctions as possible 3-way (T-
junctions).
 The desirable maximum distance from a parking space
to a utility building should be 100 m; 200 m for peak
parking in overspill areas (maximum 50 m for disabled
parking).
3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.3 Some Useful Key Definitions

Accessibility = f(time, effort, cost, risk, need)

Accessibility is a complex function of the difficulties faced by the user and /her need for the service.

Travel time = f(transport system, distance, frequency of use)

Travel time can be shortened by improving the transport system, that is, the combination of fixed
infrastructure and the carrier using it. It can also be shortened by moving users and services closer
together. The time measure must be considered as an aggregate for all users over time. There is no
point in devoting a lot of resources improving access to a place rarely visited.

Level of service = f(geometry, materials, construction method, robustness)

Levels of service can be improved by better geometry (more width, moderate slopes, gentler curves),
by better materials (smoother and more durable rolling surface), and by the degree of overbuilding (in
that robustness has an impact on the durability over time and interacts heavily with maintenance).

Robustness = f(geometry, materials, methods, traffic, weather, maintenance strategy)

Robustness is a function of how well the road is built in the first place, of the forces acting upon it
(mainly traffic and weather) and the quality of maintenance.
3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.4 Design Considerations/Benefits & Usages

The overall value and appeal of commercial/private buildings and other developments are greatly
dependent upon its accessibility features; i.e. roads and other means of accessibility. However, the
benefits of public roads become largely social and non-monetary in nature. When designing access
roads to a facility, the road engineers and planners need to consider:
 Population concerned
 Usage (present uses and potential future developments)
 Affordability
 Alternatives (construction/management/application)

3.6.5 Design Traffic/Parking Space Requirements

In preparing more detailed proposals for a new development, estimates should be made of the
projected traffic flows and distribution by type of vehicle. These may include:
 Delivery vehicles
 Retailers' and other buyers' vehicles
 Transport for permanent and temporary staff
 Vehicles of the general public
3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.5 Thresholds for Traffic and Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) where National Roads are Affected

Vehicle 100 trips in / out combined in the peak hours for the proposed
Movements development
Development traffic exceeds 10% of turning movements at
junctions with and on National Roads.
Development traffic exceeds 5% of turning movements at
junctions with National Roads if location has potential to become
congested or sensitive.

Size Retail 1,000m2 Gross Floor Area.

Leisure facilities including hotels,
conference centres and cinemas.
Business
Industry
Distribution and warehousing
Hospitals and education facilities
Stadia
Community Facilities including
places of worship, community
centres.
Housing
1,000m2 Gross Floor Area.
2,500m2 Gross Floor Area.
5,000m2 Gross Floor Area.
10,000m2 Gross Floor
Area.
2,500m2 Gross Floor Area.
1,500 person capacity.
1,000m2 Gross Floor Area.
50 dwellings within urban
areas with a population
less than 30,000.
100 dwellings within urban
areas with a population
equal to or greater than
30,000.

Parking
Provided 100 on-site parking spaces.
3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.5 Hierarchy of Road Types and Capacities
 3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.6 Traffic Analyses and Road Widths/Lanes
Traffic Analysis can be split into two well defined areas:
Traffic Volume – Done by Traffic Engineers and does not normally concern the Civil Engineer. This is not
relevant to determining the load on the road, only the size and layout.
Traffic Loading - This is the role of the Pavement Engineer and involves determining the loading on the road to
be carried forward to the Pavement Design.

Traffic Volume
The role of the traffic engineer is to enable all traffic to travel on the road at a reasonable speed and with an
appropriate degree of safety. This is not the loading that is used in the Pavement Design. These values are used
to determine the road width only.

With relation to the volume of traffic using the road, the passenger car is adopted as the standard unit and
other vehicles are assessed in terms of passenger car units (pcu). The classification of vehicles in pcu's is shown
below:
Differences in the urban and rural situations arise due to
Type of Vehicle Rural Urban
the variation of speeds in the two areas. Decisions on road
width are not normally made on total traffic flow per day as
Private cars, motor cycle combinations, taxis and
1 1 this is misleading but rather on the peak hourly flow.
light private goods vehicles up to 1.5t unladen
The maximum permissible flow is 3,000 pcu/h for a two
Motorcycles (solo), scooters and mopeds 1 0.75
lane dual carriageway and 4,500 pcu/h for a three lane dual
carriageway (motorway). For all purpose roads with
junctions these figures reduce to 1,100 and 1,900 pcu/h
Goods vehicles over 1.5t unladen weight 3 2
respectively.
Where the road is new, studies must be carried out to
estimate the volume of traffic expected to use the road.
 3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.6 Traffic Analyses and Road Widths/Lanes
It is indicated that in normal circumstances a carriageway width of 5.5 m will be required where there is direct access to
dwellings but this can be reduced where there is no direct access. Further information on widths is provided as follows :-

It is indicated that the width of 5.5 m is normally sufficient for cars to maneuver around parked vehicles to use
accesses but where lengths of road do not provide direct access widths can be reduced as follows :-

The need to cater for access by fire appliances is covered and it is necessary to ensure that appliances can reach
within 45 m of a suitable entrance to any dwelling via a road of at least 2.75 m width with 3.66 m being the minimum
necessary to allow for operating space around the vehicle.
3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.6 Road Hierarchy and Recommended Widths
3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.7 Traffic Generation Tables/Guidelines
Average Base Trip Generation during Weekday PM Peak Hour
3.6.8 Design Details of Car Parking Spaces
 Guideline to estimate required number of
parking spaces are given in the table.
 All car parking spaces (except disabled spaces)
shall be a minimum of 2.4m x 4.8m, with a
minimum aisle width of 6m & 2.0m headroom.
 Minimum 18.0m x 5.0m for lorries/trucks.
 Should be well lit, incorporate good quality
hard and soft landscaping and be situated in
safe (surveillance by staff or CCTV), accessible
and convenient locations.
Disabled car parking spaces
 Disabled car parking spaces shall be a
minimum of 3.6m x 4.8m and include a
wheelchair transfer zone of 1.2m.
 For adjoining parking spaces, the 2.4m x 4.8m
minimum is acceptable when combined with a
common 1.2m transfer zone.
 For in-line spaces the minimum shall be 6.6m x
2.4m with access available from one side.
 Parking spaces and transfer zones should be
clearly marked with the British Standard
‘Disabled’ symbol on the road surface and a
notice at the driver’s eye level; BS3262 Part 1.
3.6.8 Design Details of Car Parking Spaces Operational Spaces

Parking Spaces for Disabled Persons

3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.9 Design Details for Service Spaces for People with Disabilities
3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.9 Design Details for Service Spaces for People with Disabilities
 3.6 External Circulation and Services
3.6.10 Related BS/BS EN Codes of Practice
BS 7533-1 : 2001 : Pavements constructed with clay, natural stone, or concrete pavers -
Part 1 : Guide for the structural design of heavy duty pavements constructed of clay pavers BS 8300:2009 Design of
or precast concrete paving blocks
buildings and their approaches
BS 7533-2 : 2001 : Pavements constructed with clay, natural stone, or concrete pavers - to meet the needs of disabled
Part 2 : Guide for t he structural design of lightly trafficked pavements constructed of clay
pavers or precast concrete paving blocks people. Code of practice
BS 8300 explains how the built
BS 7533-3 : 2005 : Pavements constructed with clay, natural stone or concrete pavers -
Part 3 : Code of practice for laying precast concrete paving blocks and clay pavers for environment can be designed to
flexible pavements anticipate, and overcome,
This part of the standard gives recommendations for the laying of conventional and restrictions that prevent disabled
permeable pavements using concrete paving blocks conforming to BS EN 1338 and clay
pavers conforming to BS EN 1344. people making full use of premises
This document is intended for flexible pavements for roads, industrial areas and other paved
surfaces subjected to all categories of static and vehicular loading and pedestrian traffic.
and their surroundings.
The principles given apply to all shapes and sizes of paving units cover ed by BS EN 1338
and BS EN 1344.
BS 7533-4 : 2002 : Pavements constructed with clay, natural stone, or concrete pavers - A few British Standards are receiving
Part 4 : Code of practice for the construction of pavements with precast concrete flags or
natural stone slabs.
updates to keep up with what is
BS 7533-7 : 2002 : Pavements constructed with clay, natural stone, or concrete pavers - happening in the industry, but many
Part 7 : Code of Practice for the construction of pavements of natural stone setts and
cobbles
"BS EN" standards are now current,
with others imminent to replace
This part of BS 7533 gives recommendations for the laying of natural stone setts a nd
cobbles intended for pavements, roads, industrial areas and other paved surfaces subjected current popular standards.
to all categories of static and vehicular loading and pedestrian traffic.
BS 7533-10 : 2004 : Pavements constructed with clay, natural stone or concrete pavers -
Part 10 : Guide for the structural design of trafficked pavements constructed of natural stone An example of a recent important
sets. update is BS 594 and BS 4987 being
This part of the standard provides guidance on the design of pavements surfac ed with superseded by the BS EN 13108 family
natural stone setts manufactured in accordance with BS EN 1342 and laid in accordance
with BS 7533-7. of specifications and a new British
It applies to all pavements including those subjected to commercial vehicular traffic, e.g.
delivery vehicles.
Standard BS 594987, from 1st.January
2008.