What is the recommended minimum interchange spacing in urban areas?

What is the recommended minimum interchange spacing in urban areas?

• A. 0.5 miles
• B. 1 mile
• C. 2 miles
• D. 3 miles

Answer: (B)

The recommended minimum interchange spacing in urban areas is generally established as 1 mile. This spacing helps to ensure effective traffic flow, reduces congestion, and minimizes the risk of accidents caused by closely spaced interchanges. When interchanges are too close together, vehicles may have insufficient time and space to merge, diverge, or navigate through potential yield or stop conditions. Additionally, a 1-mile spacing allows for smoother transitions between different types of roadways, such as local streets and freeways, facilitating better access to various land uses. This spacing also considers the needs for adequate cueing lengths for vehicles entering and exiting the freeway, thereby improving overall safety and efficiency of the transportation network in densely populated urban settings. In contrast, shorter spacings could lead to increased congestion and degraded overall performance of the interchange system, while longer spacings might miss opportunities for local access and connectivity. Thus, the 1-mile standard strikes a balance between operational efficiency and local accessibility, making it a widely accepted guideline in urban transportation planning.

The recommended minimum interchange spacing in urban areas is generally established as 1 mile. This spacing helps to ensure effective traffic flow, reduces congestion, and minimizes the risk of accidents caused by closely spaced interchanges. When interchanges are too close together, vehicles may have insufficient time and space to merge, diverge, or navigate through potential yield or stop conditions.

Additionally, a 1-mile spacing allows for smoother transitions between different types of roadways, such as local streets and freeways, facilitating better access to various land uses. This spacing also considers the needs for adequate cueing lengths for vehicles entering and exiting the freeway, thereby improving overall safety and efficiency of the transportation network in densely populated urban settings.

In contrast, shorter spacings could lead to increased congestion and degraded overall performance of the interchange system, while longer spacings might miss opportunities for local access and connectivity. Thus, the 1-mile standard strikes a balance between operational efficiency and local accessibility, making it a widely accepted guideline in urban transportation planning.