Duplication
Road duplication or ‘dualling' involves changing a single carriageway road to a dual carriageway road by building a second separate carriageway, usually alongside the first.
Road duplication provides a safety benefit through provision of a central median barrier or strip of land (median or central reservation), thereby reducing the chances of head-on crashes.
This is costly and requires a large amount of space. Because it is so costly, road duplication projects are often carried out in a staged fashion, in order to make use of limited road funds. Duplication is typically only economically viable at higher traffic flow levels.
- Separation of the opposing traffic flows, and therefore reduced head-on crashes.
- Simpler traffic movements leading to less opportunity for conflict.
- Redirection of turning movements to safer locations.
- Protection for turning traffic.
- Reduced traffic congestion.
- This treatment is costly, and other lower cost treatments (such as median barrier installation) should also be considered.
- Requires a large amount of land.
- Community acceptance of the medians that restrict turning movements or restrict pedestrian movements may be an issue.
Benefits
- Separation of the opposing traffic flows, and therefore reduced head-on crashes.
- Simpler traffic movements leading to less opportunity for conflict.
- Redirection of turning movements to safer locations.
- Protection for turning traffic.
- Reduced traffic congestion.
Implementation issues
- This treatment is costly, and other lower cost treatments (such as median barrier installation) should also be considered.
- Requires a large amount of land.
- Community acceptance of the medians that restrict turning movements or restrict pedestrian movements may be an issue.
Did you know?
Some 72% of recorded pedestrian casualties occurred while pedestrians were crossing the road (Road Casualties Great Britain 2006)
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