Module 6 : Traffic Intersection Control
Lecture 31 : Channelization
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Definitions and Important Terms

  1. Channelization - It is the separation or regulation of conflicting traffic movements into definite paths of travel by traffic islands or pavement marking to facilitate the safe and orderly movements of both vehicles and pedestrians.
  2. Conflict - It is defined as the demand for the same highway space by two or more users of the highway. Conflicts are classified into mainly three types:
    1. Crossing conflicts
    2. Diverging conflicts
    3. Merging conflicts
  3. Angle of Intersection - The angle of intersection is that formed by the centerlines of the intersecting streets. Where the angle of intersection departs significantly (more than approximately $ 20^o$) from right angles, the intersection is referred to as a skewed intersection. Fig. 1 shows the angle made between the center lines of the major and minor legs.
    Figure 1: Angle of Intersection
    \begin{figure} \centerline{\epsfig{file=qfChanIntersectionAngle.eps,width=8cm}} \end{figure}
  4. Refuge Areas - The area which is used to give refuge to the pedestrians crossing a street (the open area between two medians) is known as a refuge area.