http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/rdw/ramps_and_direct_connections.

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Design Speed
Similar to facilities with design speeds of 80 mph [130 km/h] or less, ramps on these facilities should also have a relationship between the ramp design speed and the mainlane design speed. The current relationship, in general, is for the ramp design speed to be 85 or 70 percent of the highway design speed, rounded up to the nearest 5 mph [10 km/h] increment, and limiting the speed differential to 10 mph [20 km/h] on the upper range and 20 mph [30 km/h] for the mid range. Table 8-12 shows the values for ramp/connector design speeds. NOTE: Online users can click here to see the below table in PDF format.
Table 8-12: Guide Values for Ramp/Connection Design Speed as Related to Highway Design Speed (US Customary)
Highway Design Speed (mph) 85 Ramp Design Speed (mph): Upper Range (85%) Mid Range (70%) (Metric) Highway Design Speed (km/h) 140 Ramp Design Speed (km/h) Upper Range (85%) Mid Range (70%) 120 110 130 140 120 130 150 160 75 65 80 85 90 70 75 80 90 95 100
1

1 Values determined by calculating the 85 or 70 % value of the highway design speed and rounding up to the nearest 5 mph [10 km/h] increment and then adjusting if the rounded value is more than the cap amount from the highway design speed (10 mph [20 km/h] for upper range and 20 mph [30 km/h]for mid range).

Lane and Shoulder Widths

Ramp and Direct Connection shoulder widths (inside and outside) and lane widths are shown in Table 8-13. NOTE: Online users can click here to see the below table in PDF format.
Table 8-13: Ramp and Direct Connection Widths (US Customary) 1-lane 2-lane (Metric) 1-lane 2-lane 2.4 1.2 Inside Shoulder Width (m) 3.0 3.0 Outside Shoulder Width1 (m) 4.3 7.9 Traffic Lanes (m) 8 4

Inside Shoulder Width (ft)

10 10

Outside Shoulder Width1 (ft)

14 26

Traffic Lanes(ft)

1If sight distance restrictions are present due to horizontal curvature, the shoulder width on the inside of the curve may be increased to 10 ft [3.0 m] and the shoulder width on the outside of the curve decreased to 8 ft [2.4 m] (one lane) or 4 ft [1.2 m] (two lane).

Acceleration and Deceleration Lengths

Table 8-14 provides design criteria for exit ramp deceleration and taper lengths. Adjustment factors for grade effects are independent of highway design speed, therefore use Table 3-14 for deceleration length adjustment factors. Table 8-15 provides design criteria for entrance ramp acceleration and taper lengths; adjustment factors for grade effects are shown in Table 8-16. NOTE: Online users can click here to see the below table in PDF format.
Table 8-14: Lengths of Exit Ramp Speed Change Lanes (US Customary)
Highway Design Speed (mph) Minimum Length of Taper, T (ft) Assumed Exit Curve Speed (mph) 0 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 345 360 370 650 695 780 630 675 760 615 660 745 595 645 725 575 625 705 550 600 680 510 555 640 475 525 605 440 490 570 14 18 22 26 30 36 40 44 48 ------185 225 270 310 335 355 400 450 52 -------55 -------58 --------61 ----------200 200 250 295 Deceleration Length, D (ft) for Exit Curve Design Speed (mph) Stop 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75

Existing Criteria in Roadway Design Manual Figure 3-36

185 --

225 190 -265 235 195 310 275 240 310 275 240 355 325 285 405 370 335

100

425

900

880

865

850

830

805

760

730

695

530 655

485 455 415 610 575 540

375 500

NOTE: Where providing desirable deceleration length is impractical, it is acceptable to allow for a moderate amount of deceleration (10 mph) within the through lanes and to consider the taper as part of the deceleration length.

NOTE: Online users can click here to see the below table in PDF format.
Table 8-14: Lengths of Exit Ramp Speed Change Lanes (Metric)
Highway Design Speed (km/h Assumed Exit Curve Speed (km/h) 0 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 110 115 248 271 241 264 234 258 226 250 217 241 202 227 178 204 162 189 20 28 35 42 51 63 70 77 -----56 78 102 116 144 172 85 ------52 78 92 121 150 91 -------58 73 103 132 98 ---------80 110 Minimum Length Deceleration Length, D (m) for Exit Curve Design Speed (km/h) of Taper, T (m) Stop 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

Existing Criteria in Roadway Design Manual Figure 3-36

160

130

309

303

297

290

282

268

248

233

216

196

180

159

NOTE: Where providing desirable deceleration length is impractical, it is acceptable to allow for a moderate amount of deceleration (15 km/h) within the through lanes and to consider the taper as part of the deceleration length.

NOTE: Online users can click here to see the below table in PDF format.
Table 8-15: Lengths of Entrance Ramp Speed Change Lanes (US Customary)
Highway Design Speed (mph) Minimum Length of Taper, T (ft) Initial Speed (mph) 0 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 345 2186 2154 2045 2006 1945 1828 1601 1426 1227 Existing Criteria in Roadway Design Manual Figure 3-36 14 18 22 26 30 36 40 44 48 -------132 331 545 771 1009 52 --------70 287 516 757 55 ---------74 306 550 58 ----------79 326 -----------84 Acceleration Length, A (ft) for Entrance Curve Design Speed (mph) Stop 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75

90 95 100

360 370 425

2403 2786 3372

2379 2777 3385

2266 2658 3256

2233 2636 3250

2179 2593 3225

2065 2484 3123

1840 2264 2910

1668 2097 2751

1472 1906 2568

1259 1701 2375

1010 1459 2142

805 1258 1949

584 1042 1740

345 808 1514

NOTE: Uniform 50:1 to 70:1 tapers are recommended where lengths of acceleration lanes exceed 1,300 ft.

NOTE: Online users can click here to see the below table in PDF format.
Table 8-15: Lengths of Entrance Ramp Speed Change Lanes (Metric)
Highway Design Minimum Length of Acceleration Length, A (m) for Entrance Curve Design Speed (km/h) Stop 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120

Speed (km/h Taper, T (m) Initial Speed (km/h) 0 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 110 115 703 819 687 806 793 945 652 776 624 750 572 700 507 646 438 581 20 30 40 47 55 63 70 77 ------48 156 218 350 492 85 -------46 91 --------98 ---------37 190

Existing Criteria in Roadway Design Manual Figure 3-36

109 -245 155 392 305

160

130

977

987

940

928

877

787

726

657

570 496

397

Note: Uniform 50:1 to 70:1 tapers are recommended where lengths of acceleration lanes exceed 400 m.

NOTE: Online users can click here to see the below table in PDF format.
Table 8-16: Speed Change Lane Adjustment Factors as a Function of a Grade (US Customary)
Design Speed of Roadway (mph) 3 to 4% Upgrade 85 90 95 100 1.62 1.66 1.71 1.75 1.69 1.73 1.78 1.83 1.75 1.80 1.85 1.90 1.80 1.86 1.92 1.98 1.89 1.96 2.03 2.10 1.99 2.08 2.17 2.26 2.10 2.20 2.30 2.40 3 to 4% Downgrade 0.56 0.55 0.54 0.52 5 to 6 % Downgrade 3.73 4.00 4.26 4.53 4.28 4.65 5.03 5.40 0.46 0.45 0.44 0.42 Ratio of Length on Grade to Length on Level 20 25 30 35
1

40

45

50

All Speeds

5 to 6 % Upgrade 85 90 95 100 (Metric) Design Speed of Roadway (km/h) Ratio of Length on Grade to Length on Level 40 50 60 3 to 4% Upgrade
1

2.39 2.50 2.62 2.74

2.51 2.64 2.76 2.89

2.64 2.77 2.91 3.04

2.94 3.10 3.27 3.43

3.15 3.33 3.51 3.69

70

80

All Speeds 3 to 4% Downgrade

140 150 160

1.57 1.60 1.63

1.67 1.70 1.73

1.81 1.86 1.90 5 to 6 % Upgrade

1.79 1.83 1.86

1.90 1.94 1.99

0.55 0.53 0.52 5 to 6 % Downgrade

140 150 160

1

2.55 2.70 2.86

2.82 3.00 3.18

3.53 3.81 4.09

3.92 4.29 4.65

4.42 4.88 5.34

0.44 0.42 0.41

Ratio in this table multiplied by length of acceleration distances gives length of acceleration distance on grade.

Distance between Successive Ramps

The minimum acceptable distance between ramps is dependent upon the merge, diverge, and weaving operations that take place between ramps and the Highway Capacity Manual should be used for analysis of these requirements. Several iterations of the analysis may be required to determine these lengths at the higher design speeds. The distances required for adequate signing should also be considered.

Grades and Profiles

Grades and profiles are associated with design speed selected for the ramp. Design criteria for design speeds less than 85 mph [140km/h] can be found in Chapter 2.

Cross Section and Cross Slopes

The cross slope for ramp tangent sections should be similar to the cross slope used on the main lanes of the roadway. The cross slope on the ramp should be sloped in the same direction across the entire ramp. The cross slope used will depend on the pavement used and other drainage considerations.