Existing Situation
The condition of the carriageway in the reconstructed section is poor. Visible asphalt damage includes cracks, potholes and surface deterioration. In some places the road has been patched, and cracks have also formed along asphalt joints. Existing curbs are worn, broken, damaged and misaligned.
The existing sidewalk is heavily overgrown with grass, with visible unevenness in the asphalt surface and unclear surface water drainage. Public transport stops lack passenger shelters, meaning there is no protection from precipitation or wind. There is also no safe pedestrian connection between bus stops and sidewalks on the opposite side of the road, forcing pedestrians to cross the carriageway unsafely.
Within the settlement, street lighting is inadequate. A few light fixtures are installed on poles belonging to the electricity distribution operator, but they are insufficient to meet lighting standards for the settlement.
Despite the presence of curbs and sidewalks, there are no stormwater drainage networks at the site, resulting in rainwater accumulation on the road and sidewalks. Outside the settlement, roadside ditches are either absent or very shallow, preventing proper drainage from the road pavement structure. As a result, surface water from the carriageway flows into adjacent areas, including private properties.
Design Solutions
In the design scenario, the road centerline remains largely in the same position, with minor adjustments made to ensure a smoother road alignment, compliant horizontal curves and adaptation to the existing built environment in the settlement.
During the design process, consideration was given to the available road corridor width, existing buildings and structures, and the client’s requirements for specific solutions. The project also aims to preserve as many existing trees as possible, particularly those considered valuable or protected.
The longitudinal gradient of the route has been adapted to existing terrain conditions to avoid steep slopes at driveways and abrupt transitions between designed and existing surfaces. The longitudinal profile has been slightly adjusted where existing slopes do not meet minimum regulatory requirements.
The longitudinal gradients of pedestrian paths are designed according to the existing gradients of the carriageway and terrain elevations within the road corridor or adjacent state land where land plots have not yet been formed. The design ensures that the interests of third parties are not affected.
Within the project area, the road alignment can be divided into two sections:
- the section from the beginning of the designed road at PK 61+70 to the beginning of Jauneikiai village at PK 77+30, designed according to KTR 1.01:2008 “Automobile Roads”;
- the remaining section within the settlement up to the end of the designed section at PK 85+76, designed according to STR 2.06.04:2014 “Streets and Local Roads. General Requirements.”
Within the road corridor, all existing infrastructure elements will be renewed where necessary. In the reconstructed section there are two intersections, both with local roads belonging to Joniškis District Municipality.