Australia’s Guide to Road Design Part 7: New and Emerging Treatments

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Road infrastructure is evolving to meet new safety, efficiency, and sustainability challenges. The Guide to Road Design Part 7: New and Emerging Treatments, published by Austroads, provides cutting-edge design solutions for roads, intersections, motorways, and pedestrian zones across Australia.

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This guide compiles the latest research findings, pilot projects, and case studies from across the country, ensuring that Australian road networks remain safe, adaptive, and future-ready.

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1. Understanding New and Emerging Road Treatments

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1.1 Importance of Innovation in Road Design

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✔ Enhances safety – Reduces crash rates and injury severity.
✔ Improves traffic efficiency – Minimizes congestion and optimizes road space.
✔ Encourages sustainable transport – Supports pedestrian and cyclist-friendly infrastructure.
✔ Reduces maintenance costs – Integrates long-term, low-maintenance designs.

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2. Key Innovations in Intersection Design

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Intersections are critical points of conflict in road networks. Emerging treatments focus on improving safety, reducing delays, and optimizing traffic flow.

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2.1 Raised Intersection Platforms

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✔ Slows vehicles at critical points to reduce collision impact.
✔ Improves pedestrian safety with elevated crossings.
✔ Best suited for urban streets with high pedestrian traffic.

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2.2 Turbo Roundabouts

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✔ Prevents lane weaving and improves lane discipline.
✔ Reduces conflict points and speeds within roundabouts.
✔ Enhances capacity of high-volume intersections.

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2.3 Displaced Right Turn Intersections

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✔ Minimizes right-turn conflicts by shifting turn lanes away from the main intersection.
✔ Reduces delays and improves signal efficiency.
✔ Ideal for high-traffic urban roads.

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3. Midblock Treatments for Improved Traffic Flow

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Midblock sections between intersections often experience speeding, congestion, and pedestrian safety concerns.

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3.1 2-1 Roads (Two Minus One Roads)

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✔ Single-lane roads with wide shoulders to allow passing movements.
✔ Encourages speed reduction while maintaining traffic flow.
✔ Best for low-volume rural and suburban roads.

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4. Motorway and Highway Innovations

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4.1 Managed Motorways

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✔ Adaptive traffic signals and lane controls for dynamic congestion management.
✔ Ramp metering technology to regulate freeway entry speeds.
✔ Reduces bottlenecks and optimizes road capacity.

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5. Pedestrian and Cyclist-Friendly Infrastructure

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5.1 Raised Crosswalks & Protected Bike Lanes

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✔ Improves pedestrian visibility and reduces vehicle speeds.
✔ Dedicated cycling infrastructure ensures safer non-motorized transport.
✔ Encourages active transport solutions for urban centers.

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6. Other Emerging Road Safety Treatments

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6.1 Road Diets

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✔ Reallocates road space by converting multi-lane roads into single-lane streets with added bike lanes or pedestrian zones.
✔ Reduces speeding and enhances community accessibility.
✔ Ideal for urban and suburban corridors.

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6.2 Gateway Treatments

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✔ Visually signals speed limit changes at town or residential area entrances.
✔ Uses pavement markings, landscaping, and signage for traffic calming.

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6.3 Sight Distance Adjustments

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✔ Reduces excessive sight distance at intersections to prevent high-speed turns.
✔ Encourages drivers to slow down for better reaction time.

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Conclusion

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The Guide to Road Design Part 7 serves as a blueprint for innovation in Australia’s road network. By integrating these new and emerging treatments, road planners can create safer, more efficient, and future-ready infrastructure. As road technology evolves, Australia’s transport systems must adapt to ensure long-term safety and sustainability.

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