Highway Medians, Sidewalks, Typical Cross-Sections and Railway Crossings in Alberta

Cross-section decisions made at the design stage shape the safety, staging and life-cycle cost of a highway for decades. This course examines how median type and width are selected on divided highways in Alberta, including depressed, raised and flush medians, centreline spacing for long combination vehicles, and the spacing and geometry of emergency and maintenance median crossovers. It then turns to safe, accessible pedestrian environments, covering streetscape layout, sidewalk ramps and tactile cues, curb and gutter types, boulevards, and accommodation of cyclists on urban highway sections.

The course also explains strategies for retaining existing pavement width during rehabilitation, new construction and grade-widening, including allowance for future asphalt concrete pavement overlays, and reviews typical rural and urban cross-sections by design designation. Railway crossings are addressed in depth: at-grade crossing geometry, sightline and warning system requirements under federal grade crossing regulations, grade separation warrants, overpass and underpass clearances, cost sharing and work on railway property. The course closes with the purpose, classes, placement and cost responsibilities of highway fencing, and touches on environmental approvals for highway drainage.

What Will Be Covered:

• Environmental approvals, drainage patterns and wetland protection for highway drainage works

• Depressed, raised and flush medians, including centreline spacing for long design vehicles

• Median crossover spacing, placement, signing and geometric details

• Accessible pedestrian design: streetscape, sidewalk ramps, tactile cues, grates and street furniture

• Curb and gutter types, curb placement relative to barriers, and boulevard design

• Strategies to retain pavement width through rehabilitation, new construction and grade-widening

• Typical rural and urban cross-sections by design designation, including bike lanes and multi-use paths

• Railway at-grade crossing geometry, sightlines, warning systems and cost sharing

• Railway grade separation warrants, overpass and underpass clearance requirements, and encroachment on railway property

• Highway fencing requirements, fence classes, placement and construction and maintenance costs