Classification of Roads

Road classification system groups roads a limited number of clearly defined types.

Purpose of Road Classification

A road network is composed of various types of roads, each of which performs a particular service in
facilitating vehicular travel between points of trip origin and destination, and in providing access to
property. Road classification is the orderly grouping of roads into systems according to the type and
degree of service they provide to the public.

Consideration for classification - Factors affecting classification of roads

Many different classification systems have been introduced and used for particular purpose. The basis for
some of these classifications is:

1. Legal control

2. Surface type

3. Function

4. Geometric elements

5. Location

6. Traffic volume

Seldom do these classification systems differentiate between roads on basis of service which is essential for
road designer.

Design classification system

This system separates roads;

 On the basis of differences in traffic service and land services.

 On the basis of geometric design features.

The eight primary divisions in this system are:

Rural Urban

Local Local

Collector Collector

Arterial Arterial

Freeway Freeway

1. Rural and urban:

It refers to predominant characteristic of the adjacent land use and not only to jurisdictions boundaries
or features of typical cross-section.

2. Geometric design:

For geometric design purposes it is essential to divide each of these divisions. For a given road geometric
design elements are affected by traffic volume. However it is significant for classification only in
determining the number of lanes and whether road should be divided or undivided.

Other variables Affecting geometric design are;

 1. The type of terrain road passes through

2. Financial resources available

3. Population density

4. Development characteristics of the land surrounding, the road and the travel habits of the local
population.

5. Design speed is the measure of quality and is therefore the final sub division.

Road Classification

Design speed Local Collector Arterial Freeway

Km/h

RURAL 50 RLU50

: RLU60 RCU60
:
RAU80
130
RLU100 RCU100

RFD100

RAD130

URBAN 30 ULU30

ULU50 UCU50 UAU50

UCU80 UFD80

UFD100

UFD120

UAD100:- Urban, Arterial, Divided, 100km/h (design speed)

Freeway is preferred because it is more descriptive of the type of the traffic movement.
Factors affecting highway classification
To identify the classification to which any road belongs, the following factors should be considered.

1. SERVICE FUNTION:- Most roads provide service to traffic, access to land or both. Following road
type provide the service function given as;

Freeways and Arterials ==> provide the movement of through traffic.

Local roads ==> are used almost exclusively for land access.

Collectors ==> provide a combined service.

2. TRAFFIC VOLUME:- The low and high traffic volumes are carried by different roads. However,
the volume range for each classification is wide and overlaps that of other classification.
Freeway and arterials ==> carries high volume

Local and Collectors ==> carries low volume

3. FLOW CHARACTERSTICS:- The desire characteristics of traffic flow determine the classification
of road, e.g.

Freeways and Rural Arterials ==> serve primarily uninterrupted traffic flow characteristics.

Locals Roads ==> provide full land service which is restricted by traffic crossings, entering and leaving
road by parked vehicles and in urban areas by pedestrians.

4. RUNNING SPEED:- in an ideal road system, local connect with collectors, collectors connect with
arterials and arterials with freeways. It is preferable to minimize the interconnection of locals
with arterials and collectors with freeways as it can cause inconvenienced to the drivers and
may increase in accidents.