A secondary channel is used to add design features like laybys and parking bays to the the side of a road or footpath. In particular this is used where the grade of the feature is different to that of the main road carriageway (for example, where a parking bay's grade falls to the primary channel) or where the feature has an upstand (small kerb) at the join with the primary channel. The secondary channel defines the shape of the design feature.

Whereas there is only one primary channel along each side of a road, there can be a number of secondary channels, each covering a partial range of the road's length.

Site3D provides a set of tools to allow the engineering design of virtually any shape of road feature. Site3D remembers the geometry of your design, so that if you should need to move the road centreline afterwards then the shape of the channels will automatically follow.

Secondary channels differ from primary channels in that they are designed relative to another channel line rather than to the road centreline. They also allow an optional upstand, and you may specify a different grade to that of the main carriageway.

Note: It is possible to build up complex designs by adding secondary channels to secondary channels.

The example below shows the difference between a primary channel feature (left) and a secondary channel feature (right):

Example demonstrating the difference between a primary channel feature and secondary channel feature

And an example secondary channel in 3D, with exaggerated features to show the upstand at the primary channel:

Secondary Channel Tools button

To access the tools for modifying road secondary channels click the Secondary Channel Tools button button, or select the Secondary Channels Tools... option on the Road menu.

You will see this toolbar appear on the top left of the plan view window:

Secondary Channel Tools New secondary channel button Edit secondary channel button Secondary channel properties button Delete secondary channel button Close toolbar button

The big Secondary Channels Tools button button indicates which type of options the toolbar is for. Moving the mouse over this big button also restores the visibility of the toolbar when it has hidden itself (The toolbar will slide out of view after a period of inactivity).

The process for adding a secondary channel is identical to that of adding a primary channel, excepting that you must first select the primary (or secondary) channel off which it is to be designed.

New secondary channel button Add secondary channel
Edit secondary channel button Edit secondary channel
Secondary channel properties button Secondary Channel Properties
Delete secondary channel button Delete Secondary Channel
Close Toolbar button Click this button to close the toolbar


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