Guidelines for marking multi-lane roundabouts

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3.   Lane markings for typical multi-lane roundabouts

• 3.1   ‘Alberta’ exit lane markings
• 3.2   Recommended ‘Alberta’ exit lane and spiral curve markings

3.1   ‘Alberta’ exit lane markings

In Victoria, Queensland and other Australian States, multi-lane roundabouts with large inscribed circles (60m in diameter or greater) have been marked with exit lane markings comprising a 9m stripe with a 3m gap. In New Zealand, until recently, practice had been to use lane line markings (a 3m stripe with a 7m gap) on exit lanes or the same length stripe (3m long) but closing the gap up to 2m within the roundabout itself. MOTSAM recommends (Markings for multi-lane roundabouts Fig. 3.17 - Feb 2005) exit lanes be marked using a 1m stripe with a gap of 1m (continuity line equivalent but 100mm wide); the gap can be increased up to a maximum of 2m.

In Christchurch, the stripe length and gap of the exit lane pavement markings on multi-lane roundabouts vary. However, when markings are being upgraded, there has been a move to adopt the MOTSAM recommendation and mark the exit lanes with a pavement marking comprising a 1m stripe with a 2m gap.

3.2   Recommended ‘Alberta’ exit lane and spiral curve pavement markings

For safety and efficiency, it is important that drivers do not change lanes within the circulating carriageway of a multi-lane roundabout. Drivers should be able to remain within the lane allocated to them when entering the roundabout. Exit lane and spiral curve pavement markings provide drivers with the guidance required to negotiate the roundabout, safely and efficiently.

In practice, exit lane pavement markings should feature a stripe longer than that provided by MOTSAM (Markings for centrelines at intersections Figure 3.1). However, the gap between stripes should be relatively short to reinforce the message to drivers that they should not change lanes within the circulating carriageway. Spiral markings are most akin to continuity lines and recent experience suggests this form is effective.

To address this, Table 1 below details pavement markings for ‘Alberta’ exit lane and spiral curve pavement markings on multi-lane roundabouts in New Zealand. The table combines line marking practice from both Australia and New Zealand.

Table 1: ‘Alberta’ exit lane and spiral curve pavement marking format

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Page created: 28 November 2008