How roads and highways are built

1. Highway planners study everything from the long-range needs of a state or the entire country to a particular section of a single route. This planning determines what the highway needs of the region are and how these needs can best be fulfilled and paid for. In planning a system or a route, planners must learn: 1) where people live, 2) where they want to go, 3) how they get there, 4) where goods are produced, 5) what markets the goods are sent to, and 6) how the goods reach their final users. Traffic counts tell how many and what kinds of vehicles travel on a road, and when traffic is the heaviest.

2. Bypasses are built to take motorists around cities. Motorists travelling some distance often do not want to drive through small town or the centres of large cities that lie on their routes. Those travelling from one part of the city to another also usually prefer to avoid downtown traffic. The bypass helps these motorists avoid city traffic, and reduces traffic congestion for those who want to drive into town.

3. Intersections are crossings of one road by another. Most intersections are at the same level, so that vehicles going east and west have to take turns crossing with vehicles going north and south. Sometimes roads intersect at odd angles and it is especially difficult to make a safe crossing. When two freeways intersect, complex interchanges are sometimes needed. These may require a number of bridges and many ramp roadways.

4. Good lighting helps cutting accidents for both vehicles and pedestrians. On most highways and roads, nearly all the light comes from the headlights of the trucks and cars. But on busy streets and dangerous rural locations, overhead lights are used. Reflectors for the lamps are designed specifically to shine most of the light down on the roadway without glaring into the eyes of drivers.

5. The increased use of highways causes loud traffic noise, creating a problem for people who live near highways. For this reason, engineers have designed noise batteries made of concrete, wood, metal, plastic and other materials that block sound. In some areas vegetation provide protection from traffic noise.

6. Roadsides are often planted with special grasses or vines to keep the earth from washing into the ditches. In addition, many roadsides are beautified with trees and bushes. Such planting and landscaping help break the monotony of travel and make the countryside more attractive.

3) Дайте письмові відповіді на питання:

1. What helps cutting accidents for vehicles and pedestrians?

2. Where does nearly all the light come from on most highways and roads?

3. What materials block sound?

4. What else provides protection from traffic noise?

5. How and for what reason are many roadsides beautified?