Road 

Intersection

By Dr. Pradeep Kumar Shrestha
Pulchowk Campus, IOE, TU

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Intersection

• Intersection is an area shared by two or more

• Two Types
– At grade Intersection
– Grade Separated Intersection

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 At grade intersections 
• Intersection where all roadways join or cross at the 
same level 

• all the trip exchanges between the roads take place 
on the same plane. 

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Basic Requirement of At grade 
Intersection
• Minimum conflict points 
• Small approach speed
• Adequate visibility for vehicles
• Sudden change of path should be avoided
• Adequate turning radius and width of pavement  
should be provided
• Proper sign should be provided
• Good lighting shall be provided for night

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Types of At Grade Intersection
According to Nos. of  approaches (legs)
• T or Three‐leg intersections which consist of 
three approaches;

• Four‐leg or cross intersections, which consist 
of four approaches; 

• Multi‐leg intersections, which consist of five 
or more approaches.
Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Basic forms of intersections

T Y
Scissors

Cross Staggered

Staggered and skewed multiway
Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Conflict Points at Intersections
 Conflicts occur when traffic streams moving in 
different directions interfere with each other. 
 Three types of conflicts:
 merging,
 diverging,

 crossing.
 The number of possible conflict points at any 
intersection depends on: 
 the number of approaches, 
 the turning movements, and 
 the type of traffic control at the intersection
Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Types of conflicts

Diverging
Right Left
Merging
Right Left

Crossing

Direct Opposed

Weaving Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Elemental (IOE Pulchowk)

Conflict points

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Conflict Points

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Unchannelized Intersections 
 Intersection at grade where there is no practical
restriction to vehicular movements by using any part
of intersectional area
 Traffic from all approaches intermixes and proceed
to their desired path
 Lowest class of intersection, frequent traffic
accidents
 Two types of conflicts:
 Plain (Simple) intersection,
 Flared intersection

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Plain (Simple) intersections 

• Additional lanes  are not provided for turning movements at 
intersection approaches

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Flared intersections 
• Flared intersections expand the cross‐section of the street.

• The flaring is often done to accommodate a right turning or

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Channelized intersections 

• Vehicles approaching an intersection are directed to definite 
paths by islands, marking etc. and this method of control is 
called channelization. 

• Channelized intersection provides more safety and efficiency.

• It reduces the number of possible conflicts by reducing the 
area of conflicts available in the carriageway

• The unused area within intersections are covered by traffic 
islands
Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Channelized intersections 

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
(IOE Pulchowk)
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 Channelized intersections 

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Advantages of channelization
• Vehicles are confined to definite path
• Decrease conflict area
• Control angle of conflict
• Speed control of entering vehicle
• Refuse island for pedestrian
• Place for installation of traffic signs

Disadvantages of channelization
• Require large area
• Difficult to design
• One of crossing  vehicle will have to stop while other crossing
Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Grade Separated intersection

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Grade separated intersection

Intersection where cross flow of traffic are made at different

Grade separation is achieved by separation of intersecting

• Two types
– Grade Separation without Interchange
– Grade Separation with interchange

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Grade separated intersection 
without Interchange
Simply introduction of a bridge which enable
the traffic stream on the intersecting roads to
cross over each other without any conflicts.

Ramps (Connecting roads) are not provided to

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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(IOE Pulchowk)

Structures for grade separation 
• Overpass
• A major highway is taken above 
by raising its profile above the 
general ground level by 
embankment and over bridge 
across another highway

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Overpass

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Overpass
• Advantage
– Drainage problems are avoided
– Future and lateral expansion is possible

• Disadvantage
– Rolling grade at intersection
– Restriction on sight distance if long vertical curves 
are not provided

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Underpass
• A highway is taken below by depressing it below ground level 
to cross another road/rail road etc.

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Underpass

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Underpass
• Advantage
– Vehicles on major road are not changing its vertical profile 
if minor road is taken underground
– No restricting on sight distance

• Disadvantage
– High cost of construction than overpass
– Drainage problem

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Grade separated intersection with 
Interchange
Intersection in which vehicles moving in one direction
of flow may transfer to another direction by the use
of connecting roads (Ramps)

Interchange Facilities
– Direct 
– Semi Direct
– Indirect

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Types of Ramp facilities

Semi Direct

Direct

In direct

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Grade separated Intersection with 
interchange
• Advantage
– Avoids necessarily of stopping
– Increasing safety and easiness for turning traffic
– Save travel time and VOC
– Stage construction is possible
• Disadvantage
– Costly
– Difficult, costly and unfavorable when the topography 
is not favorable
– Undesirable crests and sags
Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Types of Interchanges 
Trumpet Interchange (Three leg interchange)
Diamond Interchange
Cloverleaf Interchange
Partial Cloverleaf Interchange
Directional Interchange
Bridged Rotary (Rotary Interchange)

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Trumpet interchanges 
• Trumpet interchanges have
been used where one
highway terminates at
another highway at almost
90o.

• The principal advantages

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Trumpet interchanges 

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Directional Y

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Directional Y

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Diamond interchange
• A diamond interchange is a common type of road
junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road.

• The diamond interchange uses less space therefore

• Disadvantage is that a possibility of illegal wrongway

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Diamond interchange

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Diamond interchange

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Cloverleaf interchange 

• A cloverleaf interchange is a two‐level interchange in

• Suitable when two high volume and high speed roads

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Cloverleaf interchange 

• Advantage
– Traffic are unimpeded
– Left turns has direct path
– Simple to use

• Disadvantage
– Relatively large area
– Right turn has to travel extra distance
– Carriage way area also larger

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Cloverleaf interchange 

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Cloverleaf interchange 

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Partial cloverleaf interchange 
• Partial clover leaf is a modification that combines some 
elements of a diamond interchange with one or more loops of 
a cloverleaf to eliminate only the more critical turning 
conflicts.

• It provides more acceleration and deceleration space on the 
freeway.

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Partial cloverleaf interchange 

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Partial cloverleaf interchange 

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Partial cloverleaf interchange 

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 Directional interchange
• A Directional 
interchange provides 
direct paths for Right 
turns. 

• These interchanges 
contain ramps for one 
or more direct or semi 
direct left turning 
movements. 

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Directional interchange

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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 Directional interchange

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Rotary Interchange
• The major highway is taken above or below 
rotary intersection to separate major through 
flow
• Adv.
– Relatively less area than other interchange
– Carriageway area is also less
– U‐turns are easy
• Disadv.
– Capacity is limited by capacity of rotary itself
– Weaving maneuvers
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 Rotary Interchange

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Rotary or Round About

Lecture Notes by Dr. Pradeep K. Shrestha 
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Any Question???

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