Patent ID: 7234891
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: E01C

Abstract:
1. A three-level road intersection, comprising: a first road extending in a first direction and having opposite travel lanes; a second road extending in a second direction intersecting said first direction and having opposite travel lanes, said first and second roads being disposed at ground level on opposing sides of an intersection where said first and second roads cross; a rotary disposed at the ground level within said intersection for handling right turn, left turn and U-turn traffic; a continuous-flow overpass, forming part of said first road and elevated to extend over said rotary for a distance greater than the outer diameter of said rotary, for handling through traffic traveling on said first road; a continuous-flow underpass, forming part of said second road and extending underneath said rotary for a distance greater than the outer diameter of said rotary, for handling through traffic traveling on said second road; change-direction lanes disposed on the ground level contiguous to said rotary and alongside of said roads, including one change-direction lane associated with each of said travel lanes approaching the overpass or underpass, each of said change-direction lanes separating at one end thereof from its associated travel lane approaching the overpass or underpass, to divert right turn, left turn and U-turn traffic away from its associated travel lane, each of said change-direction lanes being merged at its other end with said rotary to enable right turn, left turn and U-turn traffic to enter into said rotary; merge lanes disposed on the ground level contiguous to said rotary and alongside of said roads, including one merge lane associated with each of said travel lanes departing the overpass or underpass, each of said merge lanes being connected at one end thereof to said rotary and merging at its other end with its associated travel lane beyond the overpass or underpass to enable traffic to enter into an intended travel lane after completion of a right turn, left turn or U-turn; and, at least one barrier-free pedestrian walkway extending traversely of one of said first and second roads and disposed on grade at the ground level, outwardly of and adjacent to an outer periphery of said rotary, to enable pedestrians to traverse said one of said first and second roads and associated change-direction and merge lanes, without exposure to through traffic traveling said continuous-flow overpass or underpass.