Optimal Location of U-Turn Median Openings on Roadways

Many state and local transportation agencies have considered using U-turns as alternatives to direct left turns from driveways or side streets. Median designs are used that prohibit left turns onto the facility and mid-block U-turn median openings to accommodate diverted left turns from side streets...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Transportation research record 2003, Vol.1847 (1), p.36-41
Main Authors: Zhou, Huaguo, Hsu, Peter, Lu, Jian John, Wright, John E.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Many state and local transportation agencies have considered using U-turns as alternatives to direct left turns from driveways or side streets. Median designs are used that prohibit left turns onto the facility and mid-block U-turn median openings to accommodate diverted left turns from side streets or driveways. The location of these U-turn median openings has a great impact on the operations of U-turns. Traffic operations (weaving and delay) for right turns followed by U-turn movements on urban or suburban multilane roadways were analyzed. A working model was developed to guide the location of U-turn median openings by minimizing the average delay for U-turn movements. A case study demonstrates the operational and safety benefits of optimal U-turn median opening location.
ISSN:0361-1981
2169-4052
DOI:10.3141/1847-05