Determination of Highway Design Speed Based on Reclassification of Highway Functions and Terrain Types

Currently, design speed selection is chosen by highway function, terrain type and area type. But some standards in classifing highway function let designer decide design speed in an arbitrary manner and too rough a highway function classification system leads to a road function which can not reflect road design, and some ambiguity of terrain type leads to a road which can not reflect land use pattern. Highway design based on traffic volume level without considering area type can result high construction cost. This research paper provides new highway design standards which are based on the refinement of highway design speed selection procedure. The new design speed is summarized to be determined by a more detailed highway function, terrain type, and area type that were made considering South Korean characteristics. The new highway function is established by adopting highway function reclassification and design volumes and rural town center reclassification and new design standards for terrain type selection are developed in this research by analyzing South Korean GIS Data Base obtained over the national government offices.