Section 2: Divided Highway Intersections and Crossovers
Anchor: #i999996Introduction
Intersections at divided highways and crossovers between directions of a divided highway have special signing needs due to the complexity of the intersecting area. Medians with widths of 30 ft or more are signed as two separate intersections (Texas MUTCD Section 2A.23). The figures in this section illustrate placement of signs such as One-Way, Do Not Enter, Route Assemblies, and Yield.
Anchor: #i1000006Median Width
The median width is a critical factor in defining how a divided highway intersection or crossover operates. As such, it has an important impact on the signs used. Medians are classified as wide or narrow. In a wide median, the opposing left-turn paths cross each other. In a narrow median, the opposing left turns do not cross. Figure 7-1 illustrates this difference.
Figure 7-1. Difference in Operations between a Wide and Narrow Median
The median width is measured between the inside of the left turn lanes, or if there is no left turn lane on an approach, from the inside through lane. Each median opening has two width measurements, with one measurement for each approach. The types of medians are defined below. Figure 7-2 illustrates how to measure median width.
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- Wide Median: the median width is 30 ft or more on at least one of the approaches. Anchor: #IIVAYAHI
- Narrow Median: the median width is less than 30 ft. on both approaches.
Figure 7-2. Measuring Median Width
Anchor: #i1000051Markings for Divided Highway Intersections and Crossovers
Stop lines, Yield lines, and centerlines are not used within the median area of narrow medians.
Anchor: #i1000061Delineation for Divided Highway Intersections and Crossovers
Chapter 8 provides guidance on delineating divided highway intersections and crossovers.
Anchor: #i1000071Divided Highway Intersections
Divided highway intersections are ones where there is an external leg intersecting with one or both of the through roadways. For the illustrations in this section, the vehicle approaching the divided highway has the option of turning left or right (in other words, there is a median opening).
This section presents the following divided highway illustrations:
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- Figure 7-3: Wide median with left turn bays and an external state road on one side. Anchor: #XUNQTLFI
- Figure 7-4: Wide median with left turn bays and an external state road on both sides. Anchor: #EXHDNNGW
- Figure 7-5: Wide median with no left turn bays and an external state road on one side. Anchor: #HSTEAKVW
- Figure 7-6: Narrow median with left turn bays and an external state road on one side. Anchor: #QCFEFEAL
- Figure 7-7: Narrow median with left turn bays and an external state road on both sides. Anchor: #NPWOFOSF
- Figure 7-8: Narrow median with no left turn bays and an external state road on one side. Anchor: #TPPQGWDP
- Figure 7-9: Wide median with no left turn bays and an external local road on one side.
For each figure, confirmation signs are shown on the divided highway. For other departure signs, see Chapter 6.
Figure 7-3. Signing for Wide Median Divided Highway Intersection with Left Turn Bays and One External Road
Figure 7-4. Signing for Wide Median Divided Highway Intersection with Left Turn Bays and Two External Roads
Figure 7-5. Signing for Wide Median Divided Highway Intersection without Turn Bays and One External Road
Figure 7-6. Signing for Narrow Median Divided Highway Intersection with Left Turn Bays and One External Road
Figure 7-7. Signing for Narrow Median Divided Highway Intersection with Left Turn Bays and Two External Roads
Figure 7-8. Signing for Narrow Median Divided Highway Intersection without Turn Bays and One External Road
Figure 7-9. Signing for Wide Median Divided Highway Intersection with Local Road
Anchor: #i1000191Crossovers
Crossovers provide road users with an opportunity to change directions on a divided highway. There are no external roads at a crossover. This section presents the following crossover illustrations:
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- Figure 7-10: Wide median crossover with left turn bays. Anchor: #RFOAHAKY
- Figure 7-11: Wide median crossover with no left turn bays. Anchor: #GSMGNDTJ
- Figure 7-12: Narrow median crossover with left turn bays. Anchor: #PDWHEVCG
- Figure 7-13: Narrow median crossover with no left turn bays.
These figures can also be applied to crossover applications which allow the option to turn into a driveway.
See figure 8-24 for an emergency crossover.
Figure 7-10. Signing for Wide Median Crossover with Left Turn Bays
Figure 7-11. Signing for Wide Median Crossover without Left Turn Bays
Figure 7-12. Signing for Narrow Median Crossover with Left Turn Bays
Figure 7-13. Signing for Narrow Median Crossover without Left Turn Bays