Grade separation in practice

The east/west street, Hankin Road, is similar to our Genesee Avenue. During AM peak, some 1,900 eastbound (EB) vehicles per hour approach this intersection along Hankin. (Compare this figure to 2,100 NB vehicles on Genesee during AM peak hour.) 74% of the eastbound traffic goes straight through, without turning on International/Bat Hen. On Genesee, 80% of northbound traffic proceeds straight through, without turning onto Governor.

Of the 1,390 vehicles executing eastbound through moves, 1,200 (86%) take the underpass. Since this is a low clearance underpass (2.9 meters = 9.5 feet), high profile vehicles such as buses are forced to travel at grade. Were the clearance greater, the fraction of vehicles utilizing the underpass would be even larger! (Planned clearance for the Genesee underpass is 14.5 feet, sufficient for high profile vehicles.)

The greatest difference between this intersection and ours is the very weak volumes on the northern leg, in and out of the new community of Ramat Hen. The intersection was grade-separated anticipating the future growth of this community.

(Click here to see intersection photos.)

Raw data courtesy of Mr. Doron Magid of Yefe Nof (Haifa, Israel).