Roadway Widths for High-Traffic Volume Roads
The United States has over 4.8 million km (3 million mi) of two-lane highways, and about 90 percent of these roads haved increase traffic volumes. Many of these roads were designed and built to standards that haven't been upgraded for truck traffic.For example, over one-fourth of the mileage has lane widths of 2.7 m (9 ft) or less and two-thirds have shoulder widths of 1.2 m (4 ft) or less. Because funding is not available to reconstruct all two-lane highways to meet current design standards of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), State and local highway agencies must decide which roads to reconstruct. Current design standards do not provide the guidance necessary to make safety, operations, and cost trade-offs. This investigation was undertaken to develop revised roadway width guidelines based on accident analyses, cost estimates, and operational considerations.Another factor is property needed to widen rural roadways. Roadway has taken us of the interstates to save a dime to trip over a dollar. I'm just saying they put us in more danger on rural roads. Heres another bad spot going to Toledo OH route 18+20 and 224 +250 rural routes with trucks passing you at 55mph with no shoulders. No where to get off the side if another big rigger comes at you head on. 110 mph impacted kiss your butt go bye.