Expressways Arterial Streets Sub-Arterial Streets Collector’s Streets Local Streets

1. Classification of Urban Roads
1. Expressways
2. Arterial Streets
3. Sub-Arterial Streets
4. Collector’s Streets
5. Local Streets

2. Expressways
• For Speedy and heavy traffic
• Pedestrians not allowed
• Connect main markets, important places
• Complete separation of opposite moving traffic
by a divider or median
• Level crossings, sharp curves, steep gradients
avoided
• Telephone facility, Highway Police, Servicing
Stations, Refreshment Facility available at regular
intervals

3. Arterial Streets
• For the heavy/important traffic inside the city
• Usually along the expressways serving as
principal network of traffic flow
• Join central business district with outside
residential areas
• Parking, loading, unloading prohibited
• Pedestrians are allowed to cross only at
intersections

4. Sub-Arterial Streets
• Less traffic than arterial streets
• Pedestrians are allowed to cross only at
intersections
• Spacing varies from 0.5 km in central business
areas to 3 to 5 km in residential area.
• Parking, loading, unloading usually restricted
and controlled

5. Collector’s Streets
• Meant for collecting the traffic from local
streets to arterial streets
• Full access allowed from properties alongside
• Situated in residential, commercial, industrial
areas
• Few parking restrictions except for peak hours

6. Local Streets
• Open access from residents, business or other
properties
• Does not carry large volume of traffic
• Unrestricted parking and pedestrians allowed

7. Urban Road Patterns

8. Rectangular/Block Pattern

9. Radial (Star) and Block Pattern

10. Radial (Star) and Circular Pattern

11. Radial (Star) and Grid Pattern

12. Hexagonal Pattern

13. Minimum Travel Pattern

14. Sr. No. Point of Comparison Roadways Railways
1 Type of traffic
Cars, bikes, trucks, lorries,
buses, etc.
Goods & passenger trains
2 Width of right of way More Less
3 Tractive resistance More Less
4 Special operational devices Not required Required
5 Rate of accidents More Less
6 Cost of Construction & maintenance Low High
7 Suitability to hilly areas Suitable Not suitable
8 Load carrying capacity Low High
9 Distance of travel Short Long
10 Gradients & curves
Steep gradients & sharp
curves can be provided
Only smooth gradients or
curves should be provided
11
Requirement of skilled labour for
construction & maintenance
Not required Required
Comparison between Roadways & Railways:

15. Roads becoming Popular…
• 1951- Rail: Road Passenger Transport
Proportion was 62:38
• 1981- Rail: Road Passenger Transport
Proportion became 20:80
• At a time, Railway needs 2000 tonnes for
economical transport
• At a time, Road transport can be a truck or
group of many. One truck carries just 10
tonnes.

16. • Timings in case of Railways are fixed where
they are flexible in case of road transport
• The monopoly of Government is not present
in Road transport
• Suitable for personal travel
• Cost of Construction- Roadways- Rs. 15-25
Lakhs/km, Railways- Rs. 30-60 Lakhs/km
• Cost of Maintenance- Roadways- Rs. 10,000 to
15,000 /km, Railways- Rs. 1-2 Lakhs/km.
Roads becoming Popular…