How to build roads - a primer for civil engineers
Preparation
- Go to Wyoming and look at how they build roads. Use their example as a starting point. Notice how gradual the grades are in the mountain passes. Ignore Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
- Go to Illinois and look at how they build their roads. Don't follow their example.
- Go to Oregon. Ignore their general road construction techniques. Notice how often they install signs that make motorists aware of the fact that cyclists share the road.
- Go to Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri and notice how steep the mountain passes are in the Ozark and Appalachian Mountains. Don't do this.
- Go to Missoula, Montana and notice how frequently their city streets have designated bike lanes.
- Go to Breckenridge and Silverthorne, Colorado and study their extensive network of intercity bike trails.
Now you're ready to start. Here are your criteria:
- Build wide lanes
- Build a shoulder that is at least 5 feet wide
- Maximum road grade should be 8%
- Do not use blind corners
- Use paint for the lines, not that plastic stripe stuff used in Oregon
Read this ABC News story about traffic calming and ways to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety
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