Topic 2: Types of roads

2. Answer the question:

• Would you prefer to live in a city with a busy traffic or in a village (small town)? Speak on advantages and disadvantages of both variants.

2.1 The general notion of the term “roads” New words and phrases to learn:

identifiable route ( way, path) – обозначенная дорога

to diverge – расходиться, распространяться

urban space easement – городской сервитут

efficient roads – рентабельные дороги

transportation facilities – транспортная инфраструктура

continuous right-of-way – непрерывное движения

geographic obstacles – природные преграды

vehicular and pedestrian traffic – транспортное и пешеходное движение

Storm drainage - ливневки

detrimental effects –

разрушительные процессы

runoff coefficients – коэффициенты износа

1. Read and translate the text:

A road is an identifiable route, way or path between places. Roads are typically smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel; though they need not be, and historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or maintenance.

The term was also commonly used to refer to roadsteads, waterways that lent themselves to use by shipping. In urban areas roads may diverge through a city or village and be named as streets, serving a dual function as urban space easement and route. Economics and society depend heavily on efficient roads.

Although transport systems follow the same supply and demand theory as other industries, the complications of network effects and choices between non-similar goods (e.g. car and bus travel) make estimating the demand for transportation facilities difficult.

In transport, demand can be measured in numbers of journeys made or in total distance traveled across all journeys (e.g. passenger-kilometers for public transport or vehicle-kilometers of travel (VKT) for private transport). Supply is considered to be a measure of capacity. The price of the good (travel) is measured using the generalized cost of travel, which includes both money and time expenditure. The effect of increases in supply (capacity) is of particular interest in transport economics as the potential environmental consequences are significant.

Road construction requires the creation of a continuous right-of-way, overcoming geographic obstacles and having grades low enough to permit vehicle or foot travel and may be required to meet standards set by law or official guidelines. The process is often begun with the removal of earth and rock by digging or blasting, construction of embankments, bridges and tunnels, and removal of vegetation (this may involve deforestation) and followed by the laying of pavement material. A variety of road building equipment is employed in road building.

Roadways are designed and built for primary use by vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Storm drainage and environmental considerations are a major concern. Erosion and sediment controls are constructed to prevent detrimental effects. Drainage lines are laid with sealed joints in the road easement with runoff coefficients and characteristics adequate for the land zoning and storm water system. Drainage systems must be capable of carrying the ultimate design flow from the upstream catchment with approval for the outfall from the appropriate authority to a watercourse, creek, river or the sea for drainage discharge.

Various types of road are in use around the world. Roads range in size from private driveways, to the stereotypical two-lane highway, to high capacity dual carriageway routes, such as freeways, motorways and high-quality dual carriageways. The names associated with a particular type of road vary around the world, and many names are partially equivalent but not exactly equivalent to each other. As a result, the name given to a road in one country could apply to a different type of road in another country.

Most countries have major roads of medium capacity that connect cities, places, other routes, or other significant points of interest. They may have multiple lanes of traffic, a median or central reservation between lanes of opposing traffic, and partial access control (ramps and grade separation). Often they are restricted to motorized vehicles that can maintain high speeds. However, they can also be as simple as a two-lane shoulderless road.

2. Answer the questions:

• What is general definition of the term «road”?

• What disciplines are connected with the notion of “road” this or that way?

• How does the process of road construction start?

• What are the main factors determining road construction?

• Why is it so important to have a diverse roads network? What types of roads could you point out?

2. Find Russian equivalents for:

• roadsteads

• supply and demand theory

• measure of capacity

• potential environmental consequences

• to meet standards

• erosion and sediment controls

• particular type of road

• partial access control

• lanes of opposing traffic

• two-lane shoulderless road

4. Make up a detailed plan of the text.

5. Retell the text according to your plan.