2+1 Roadways

Kentucky Policy​

​A 2+1 road is a three-lane highway that has two travel lanes in one direction - one of which is used for passing maneuvers- and one lane in the opposite direction.  The passing lane alternates every few miles.  On some highways, traffic volumes are insufficient to justify a four-lane highway but are too great to be served by a two-lane configuration with permitted passing (when a vehicle can safely pass another) or a two-lane configuration which has occasional added-on passing lanes.  In these conditions, a continuous passing lane whose directionality alternates is less stressful for drivers than finding a passing gap in oncoming traffic and minimizes the likelihood of head-on collisions with opposing vehicles.  2+1 roadways can be a good option in these situations. 

KYTC's 2+1 Roadway Design Guidance

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 References

KTC 2+1 Brief
This briefing developed by the Kentucky Transportation Center describes capacity, LOS, lane length, and safety benefits of using the 2+1 roadway design
Ktc 2+1 Brief​
Application of European 2 + 1 Roadway Designs
This digest summarizes the results of NCHRP Project 20-7/Task 139, "Application of European 2+1 Roadway Designs." The great majority of U.S. rural roads have only two lanes. Under NCHRP Project 20-36, researchers conducted a scan of geometric design practices and identified the 2+1 roadway design as an alternative design used by some European countries.
Application of European 2 1 Roadway Design.pdfApplication of European 2 1 Roadway Design.pdf

Missouri Alternate Four-Lane
Trying to pass a slower moving vehicle on a two-lane highway can be both frustrating and dangerous. In order to help make Missouri highways safer and reduce the number of fatalities and disabling injuries that occur each year, MoDOT has embraced the concept of an alternate four-lane design on certain routes. An alternate four-lane consists of an additional lane added to one side of a conventional two-lane highway to provide motorists an opportunity to pass another vehicle without having to find gaps in the on-coming traffic.
Missouri Alternate Four-Lane

Alternating Passing Lane Lengths
This paper reports on a study of passing lane operations, with a focus on continuous three-lane cross sections with alternating passing lanes (three-lane alternate passing or 2+1 segments in Arkansas.
Alternating Passing Lane Lengths.pdfAlternating Passing Lane Lengths.pdf
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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​​This page is maintained by Kareng.Jones@ky.gov, who may be contacted to make corrections or changes.

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