Question about Superelevation in residential areas??? 1

[Valdostan]

A local municipality has begun to require superelevation in residential subdivisions. While in certain areas this is useful and certainly necessary, in many places it is impractical and unnecessary.

From AASHTO pg. 396 "Usually, superelevation is not provided on local streets in residential and commercial areas; it may be considered on local streets in industrial areas to facilitate operation."

Has anyone else ran into this and have any more references to show that full superelevation in residential areas is overkill? Thanks for the help.

 

[Ron]

One very good reason NOT to use superelevation on residential streets is that it promotes higher speeds on such roads. Curves in residential areas are often "blind" curves and should be areas where speed is reduced, not encouraged. I would lobby against it for this reason. I see no need for superelevation in residential areas.

 

[dicksewerrat]

Super elevating roads throws all the drainage to one side. Will there be freezing water ever? And then the speed issue with hydroplaning. Makes the LAWYERS very happy.

 

[Valdostan]

There will not really be an issue with freezing since the county is located in South GA. If we have anything freeze here, everything shuts down and no one leaves. The drainage issue is an argument that we have already tried and they were not receptive since they wanted a drainage structure placed in the low area of the curve. Thanks for the help guys, I just wanted to know if anyone else had any technical reasons to prove that it was not necessary.