Adopt shoulders where supported by reasons described in Austroads to support traffic function, such as an area for errant vehicles to recover, an offset to hazards or a safe area for broken down vehicles. These benefits support movement functions and are suited to main-road corridor types. When being considered for higher place functions they should be evaluated to ensure their use isn't detrimental.
Benefits
- Acts as a clear zone allowing errant vehicles space to recover
- Allows broken down vehicles to pull over safely away from travel lanes
- Provides a trafficable area use by emergency vehicles
- Provides clearance to lateral obstructions
- Provides a space for use by cyclists
Considerations
- Takes up width better suited to other uses, particularly in high-place function areas
- Increases crossing distances if carried through intersections
Reference
Austroads Guide
Guide to Road Design Part 3: Geometric Design, Section 4.3
Example
The Pacific Motorway incorporates a shoulder along its length, suitable for breakdowns, space for recovery and offset to hazards.
Details
Location:
Pacific Motorway, Barraganyatti near the Stuarts Point interchange
Agency responsible:
TfNSW
Application
| Local streets | Main streets | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential lane |  | Destination high street | |
| Residential way | | Transit street | |
| Yield street | | Connector avenue |  |
| Neighbourhood street | | Arterial high street | |
| Connector street | | Transit arterial | |
| Urban centre street | | ||
| Enterprise street | | ||
| Main roads | Civic spaces | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Transit only corridor | | Civic high street | |
| Rural link |  | Transit mall | |
| Rural highway | | Civic lane | |
| Secondary arterial | | Service lane | |
| Principal arterial | | ||
| Motorway | | ||
Legend
| Appropriate treatment |
| Use with caution |
| Inappropriate treatment |
 | Not applicable |