• Restrict vehicles to the pavement area
• Define points of access to abutting properties
Vertical curbs should not be used on highways with design speeds of more than 70 km/h. If a curb is
necessary in this case, a curb clearance of 0.6m should be added to the outside lane adjacent to curbed
edges. Where there is a shoulder, there is no need to provide a curb clearance.
8.7.5 Borders, Buffer Strips and Sidewalks
The border is the area acting as a buffer zone between the edge of pavement and the right‐of‐way line.
Border areas separate the traffic from properties abutting the road or highway. On some roads,
sidewalks are included within the border limits. In those cases, a minimum 600 mm buffer strip
separating the sidewalk from the curb is desirable, provided sufficient right‐of‐way is available.
Borders are capable of accommodating road signs and structures, traffic control devices, traffic signals,
utilities, lighting and landscaping features. The preferred location for these appurtenances (utility poles,
fire hydrants, lighting, and traffic control boxes) is beyond the back of the sidewalk, especially when a
travel lane is immediately adjacent to the curb.
Sidewalks are provided where they are justified by pedestrian activity. Sidewalk width varies according
to projected use and available right‐of‐way, with 2.0 m preferred. In commercially developed areas, the
entire area between the curb and buildings is often used as a paved sidewalk.
8.7.6 Medians
Medians are used to separate opposing traffic lanes on multi‐lane roads. A median will provide many or
all of the following benefits:
• Separation from opposing traffic reducing the likelihood of accidents and improving the traffic flow
characteristics.
• Refuge for emergency stops
• Area for control of errant vehicles
• Reduction in headlight glare
• Area for deceleration and storage of mainline left‐turning and U‐turning vehicles
• Area for storage of vehicles crossing the mainline at intersection.
• Area for placement of luminaire supports, traffic signs, traffic signals, guardrail, landscaping, and
bridge piers.
• Increased drainage collection area
• Refuge area for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Area for future additional lanes
Medians may range in width from as little as 1.2m in an urban area to 20m or more in rural areas.
Median width will depend on the following:
• Functional class
It is recommended that urban medians be curbed. Rural medians should be provided with a 0.60 m or
1.22 m shoulder and not curbed; a depressed median is preferred to improve drainage. A curbed
median, however, is desirable where there is a need to control left turn movements and when the
median is to be landscaped. If the median is curbed and paved, the median surface should be designed
to have slopes of 2 percent, and should fall away from the center of the median. Non‐paved medians
should be depressed and slope towards the inside at 1V:6H for proper drainage, but consideration
should be given to additional storage capacity or outlets for storm conditions. Paved medians may
require incorporating drainage systems such as manholes, culverts, etc. All drainage inlets in the
median should be designed with the top flush with the ground and safety gratings for culvert ends.
Table 8‐22 sets out the minimum widths for certain functional requirements of medians.
Table 8‐22. Minimum Median Widths for Certain Functions (m)
At Signalized
Requirements Elsewhere
Intersections
Minimum to accommodate signal heads 1.2 to 1.6 ‐
Minimum curbed to separate traffic 1 1
Minimum to accommodate pedestrians 2.0 to 3.5 3.5
Minimum to provide left‐turn lanes 4.2 4.75
Minimum to provide U‐turn n/a 5.0
Minimum for landscaping provision n/a 8
Table 8‐23 provides the typical median widths based on roadway classifications.
Table 8‐23. Typical Median Widths (m)
Urban Rural
Roadway Classification
Min. Desirable Min. Desirable
Freeways and Expressways 6.0 8.0 to 10.0 6.0 8.0 to 10.0
Primary Arterials 6.0 8.0 to 10.0 6.0 8.0 to 10.0*
Secondary Arterials 4.0 6.0 4.0 12.1*
Collectors 2.0 6.0 4.0 6.0
* Consideration for future lane widening