Guidelines for Control of Access on Highways

IRC 62 Introduction provides key definitions and guidelines for access control on highways to improve safety and traffic flow. It defines various road types such as Expressway, Arterial Highway, Sub-arterial Street, Collector Street, Local Street, Service Road, Byepass, Divided Highway, and Two-lane Road (Clause 3.1 to 3.11). Control of Access is classified as Full or Partial, emphasizing preference to through traffic by regulating driveway connections and crossings (Clauses 3.12 to 3.14). Median and intersection terms are defined, including Median Opening and Grade Separation (Clauses 3.15 to 3.21). The guidelines stress spacing of intersections and access points, recommending minimum distances (e.g., 750 m between intersections on rural highways, 300 m between private driveways) and conditions for grade separations based on traffic volumes (Clauses 6.3 to 7.7). These form the basis for controlling access to enhance safety and reduce congestion on urban and rural highways.

Sources: Clause 1.2, Clauses 3.1 to 3.22, Clauses 6.3 to 7.7

The scope and application of IRC 62 focus on controlling access on through roads to improve safety and traffic flow, especially by regulating right-turn movements (Clause 1.2). The guidelines apply to both urban and rural highways with specific recommendations for each (Clause 2.1). Key definitions include various road types such as arterial highways, sub-arterial streets, collector streets, local streets, service/frontage roads, byepasses, divided highways, and two-lane roads (Clauses 3.1 to 3.11). Control of access is defined as the regulation of entry rights to highways, with distinctions between full and partial control (Clauses 3.12 to 3.14).

Access control principles include:

• On expressways and arterials, no direct residential access; limited commercial/industrial access with restrictions on right turns (Clause 6.7).
• Minimum spacing for intersections and driveways to ensure safety and reduce congestion (Clauses 6.5, 6.6, 7.3, 7.4).
• Median openings limited to intersections or major traffic generators, with protected right-turn lanes recommended (Clauses 6.11, 6.12, 7.5).
• Grade separations recommended based on traffic volume thresholds for intersections and railway crossings (Clauses 6.13, 6.14, 7.6, 7.7).

These guidelines provide a framework for access control to maintain highway service levels and safety.

Sources: Clause 1.2, Clause 2.1, Clauses 3.1 to 3.14, Clauses 6.5 to 6.14, Clauses 7.1 to 7.7

IRC 62 Clause 3 provides key definitions essential for access control on highways. Important terms include:

• Highway: A public way for vehicular travel including the entire right-of-way (Clause 3.1).
• Expressway: Divided arterial highway with full/partial access control and grade separations (Clause 3.3).
• Arterial Highway/Street: Highway primarily for through traffic on a continuous route (Clause 3.4).
• Sub-arterial Street: Links expressways/arterials to collector streets with lower mobility (Clause 3.5).
• Collector Street: Collects/distributes traffic between local and arterial streets (Clause 3.6).
• Local Street: Primarily for access to residences or businesses (Clause 3.7).
• Service/Frontage Road: Subsidiary road between highway and abutting properties, connected at selected points (Clause 3.8).
• Byepass: Road to divert through traffic around congested areas (Clause 3.9).
• Divided Highway: Two physically separated carriageways for opposite traffic (Clause 3.10).
• Control of Access: Public authority control over access rights to highways (Clause 3.12).
• Full Control of Access: Access only at selected public roads, no direct private driveways (Clause 3.13).
• Partial Control of Access: Some private driveways and crossings allowed (Clause 3.14).
• Median: Dividing portion separating opposite traffic carriageways (Clause 3.15).
• Median Opening: Gap in median for crossing and right turns (Clause 3.16).
• Intersection: Area where two or more highways join or cross (Clause 3.17).
• Progressive System of Signals: Coordinated traffic signals for continuous vehicle flow (Clause 3.18).
• Driveway: Access from road to private property, constructed with authority permission (Clause 3.19).
• At-grade Intersection: Roads join or cross at the same level (Clause 3.20).
• Highway Grade Separation: Intersection with crossing at different levels (Clause 3.21).
• Average Daily Traffic (ADT): Average 24-hour traffic volume over a period (Clause 3.22).

These definitions form the basis for understanding access control and highway classifications in IRC 62.

Sources: Clause 3.1, Clause 3.3, Clause 3.4, Clause 3.5, Clause 3.6, Clause 3.7, Clause 3.8, Clause 3.9, Clause 3.10, Clause 3.12, Clause 3.13, Clause 3.14, Clause 3.15, Clause 3.16, Clause 3.17, Clause 3.18, Clause 3.19, Clause 3.20, Clause 3.21, Clause 3.22

The Principles of Access Control per IRC 62 focus on regulating entry and exit points on highways to prioritize through traffic and enhance safety. Key definitions include:

• Control of Access: Public authority controls the right of abutting landowners to access the highway (Clause 3.12).
• Full Control of Access: Access only via selected public roads; no at-grade crossings or private driveways allowed (Clause 3.13).
• Partial Control of Access: Some private driveways and at-grade crossings permitted along with selected public road connections (Clause 3.14).

Types of roads are classified from expressways (full control) to local streets (primarily access). Median openings and intersections are carefully managed to reduce conflict points (Clauses 3.15-3.17).

The guidelines emphasize minimizing right-turn movements from and into main highways to reduce accidents (Clause 1.2). Progressive signal systems may be used to facilitate smooth traffic flow (Clause 3.18).

These principles apply differently to urban and rural highways (Clause 2.1).

Sources: Clause 1.2, Clauses 2.1, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17, 3.18

Key specifications for Access Control on Urban Highways per IRC 62 include:

• Access Point Spacing: Limited access points with intervening streets may be closer than standard spacing if only left turns are permitted (Clause 6.5). For expressways with frequent intersections, an additional continuous turning lane is recommended.

• Direct Access Restrictions: No direct access to residential plots on expressways and arterials; restricted access allowed for commercial/industrial complexes with no right turns unless spacing criteria in Clause 6.3 are met (Clause 6.7).

• Median Openings: Should be limited to intersections with public streets or major traffic generators; median width must allow safe right turns with protected turn lanes where possible (Clauses 6.11, 6.12).

• Grade Separations: Required at intersecting streets if traffic exceeds intersection capacity within 5 years; future provision considered for 20-year projections (Clause 6.13). For railways, grade separations depend on traffic and economic justification (Clause 6.14).

These guidelines ensure safety and congestion control on urban highways.

Sources: Clause 6.3, Clause 6.5, Clause 6.7, Clause 6.11, Clause 6.12, Clause 6.13, Clause 6.14

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Key spacing and access control specifications from IRC 62 are as follows:

• Spacing of intersections with public roads: Minimum 750 m (Clause 7.3).
• Spacing of connections from parallel service/frontage roads: Also minimum 750 m (Clause 7.3).
• Spacing of individual driveways to private property: Minimum 300 m apart or from intersections (Clause 7.4).
• Median openings: Limited to intersections with public roads; additional openings for U-turns may be provided about every 2 km on divided highways (Clauses 6.11, 7.5).
• Direct access restrictions: No direct access to residential plots on expressways and arterials; limited access for commercial/industrial with no right turns unless spacing criteria of Clause 6.3 are met (Clauses 6.7, 6.8).
• Grade separations: Recommended when traffic volumes exceed intersection capacity within 5 years or projected 20 years (Clauses 6.13, 7.6).

These guidelines ensure safety and traffic flow efficiency by controlling access points and spacing on highways and urban roads.

Sources: Clause 6.3, Clause 6.7, Clause 6.8, Clause 6.11, Clause 7.3, Clause 7.4, Clause 7.5, Clause 7.6

Median openings on divided highways should be limited primarily to intersections with public streets or major traffic generators and not for individual business needs, as per Clause 6.11. At non-signalized locations, median openings are allowed only if the median width provides sufficient protection for vehicles making right turns from side streets before completing the maneuver (Clause 6.12). To facilitate right turns from the main street, a protected right turn lane of adequate width and length should be provided in the median where possible. On rural highways with divided cross-sections, median openings should be spaced about 2 km apart for U-turns or emergency diversions when intersections are far apart (Clause 7.5). These guidelines ensure safety and minimize congestion by controlling the number and design of median openings.

Sources: Clause 6.11, Clause 6.12, Clause 7.5

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Key specifications for driveway access per IRC 62 include:

• Access Restrictions: On expressways and arterials, direct residential access is prohibited; commercial/industrial access allowed with no right turns unless spacing criteria (para 6.3) are met (Clause 6.7).
• Access on Sub-Arterials: Residential access only if no reasonable alternative; commercial/industrial allowed (Clause 6.8).
• Collector Streets: Limited access allowed considering traffic safety (Clause 6.9).
• Local Streets: Free access to abutting properties (Clause 6.10).
• Median Openings: Limited to intersections or major traffic generators; minimum number; protected right turn lanes recommended (Clauses 6.11, 6.12).
• Spacing: Intersections and frontage roads spaced not less than 750 m; private driveways spaced at least 300 m apart or from intersections (Clauses 7.3, 7.4).
• Grade Separations: Required when traffic exceeds intersection capacity in 5-20 years or when ADT × trains/day exceeds thresholds (Clauses 6.13, 6.14, 7.6, 7.7).

These ensure safety, congestion control, and efficient traffic flow.

Sources: Clause 6.3, Clause 6.7, Clause 6.8, Clause 6.9, Clause 6.10, Clause 6.11, Clause 6.12, Clause 6.13, Clause 6.14, Clause 7.3, Clause 7.4, Clause 7.6, Clause 7.7

Key traffic volume and safety considerations per IRC 62 include:

• Access Spacing: Intersections on rural highways should be spaced not less than 750 m (Clause 7.3). Private property driveways must be spaced at least 300 m apart or from intersections (Clause 7.4).

• Access Control: On expressways and arterials, direct residential access is prohibited; commercial/industrial access allowed with restrictions (Clause 6.7). On sub-arterials and collector streets, access is limited to ensure safety (Clauses 6.8, 6.9).

• Median Openings: Should be limited to intersections or major traffic generators; additional openings for U-turns may be spaced about 2 km apart (Clauses 6.11, 7.5).

• Grade Separations: Required when traffic volumes exceed intersection capacity within 5 years (Clause 6.13) or when ADT × trains/day > 50,000 for rail crossings (Clause 7.7).

• Traffic Volume Thresholds: Grade separations on divided rural highways if cross-road ADT (fast vehicles) exceeds 5000 within 5 years (Clause 7.6).

These guidelines aim to balance traffic flow efficiency and safety by controlling access and intersection design.

Sources: Clause 6.3 to 6.14, Clause 7.1 to 7.7, Clause 1.2, Clause 3.1 to 3.22

Key implementation and planning recommendations from IRC 62 include:

• Access Control: On expressways and arterials, direct access to residential plots is prohibited; limited access allowed for commercial/industrial sites with no right turns unless spacing criteria are met (Clause 6.7).

• Spacing of Intersections: Minimum spacing of 750 m between intersections and frontage road connections on rural highways (Clause 7.3).

• Driveway Spacing: Private property driveways should be spaced at least 300 m apart or from intersections; grouping access via frontage roads is encouraged (Clause 7.4).

• Median Openings: Limited to intersections with public roads or major traffic generators; additional openings for U-turns at ~2 km intervals on divided highways (Clauses 6.11, 7.5).

• Grade Separations: Required when traffic volumes exceed intersection capacity within 5 years or projected to exceed within 20 years; for railways, based on ADT and train frequency thresholds (Clauses 6.13, 6.14, 7.6, 7.7).

• Access Hierarchy: Local streets allow free access; collector and sub-arterial streets allow limited access; expressways restrict access to major generators only (Clauses 6.7 to 6.10).

These guidelines ensure safety, reduce congestion, and maintain traffic flow efficiency.

Sources: Clause 6.3 to 6.14, Clause 7.1 to 7.7, Clause 3.1 to 3.22

IRC 62 provides key definitions and guidelines for access control on highways, including urban and rural contexts. Important related publications include IRC Special Publication No. 15-1974 on Ribbon Development. Key definitions cover highway types (e.g., arterial, sub-arterial, collector streets), control of access (full and partial), median and median openings, intersections, and grade separations. Access control guidelines specify spacing for intersections and driveways, median openings, and conditions for grade separations based on traffic volumes and safety considerations (Clauses 1.2, 3.1–3.22, 6.3–6.14, 7.1–7.7). For example, spacing of intersections on rural highways should not be less than 750 m, and median openings should be limited to intersections with public roads (Clauses 6.3, 7.3, 7.5). Grade separations are recommended when traffic volumes exceed certain thresholds within 5 to 20 years (Clauses 6.13, 6.14, 7.6, 7.7).

Sources: Clause 1.2, Clauses 3.1 to 3.22, Clauses 6.3 to 6.14, Clauses 7.1 to 7.7