How Many Lanes Does a Two-Way 4-Lane Road Have?

[VanAnthony]

Two-way four-lane generally refers to a road with four motor vehicle lanes. Below is relevant information about two-way four-lane roads: Standards for two-way four-lane roads: A two-way four-lane highway is designed for speeds of 60-80 km/h, with a road width accommodating four lanes. A median strip and green belt can be installed in the middle, with each lane being 3.75 meters wide. When necessary, a non-motorized vehicle lane of at least 3.5 meters and a sidewalk of at least 4 meters must be established. Composition of two-way four-lane roads: A two-way four-lane road surface has the width of four lanes and two emergency lanes. A median strip is set in the middle, using high-grade pavement such as asphalt concrete or cement concrete, equipped with complete signs, markings, signals, and lighting devices. Pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles are prohibited from walking on the road, and intersections with other routes are handled via overpasses, pedestrian bridges, or underpasses.

[OliveLee]

I've been driving heavy trucks for over a decade. A bidirectional 4-lane road means there are a total of 4 lanes in both directions combined. On the road, you'll see a median barrier or double yellow lines separating the directions, with two lanes on each side. The two lanes on your side allow for easy lane changes and overtaking. This type of road is the most comfortable for long-distance driving, much safer than a two-lane road. When encountering a heavy truck, remember not to drive alongside it for too long, especially on uphill sections where the right lane is mostly occupied by large vehicles. In rainy weather, be cautious of deep water accumulation in the outermost lane—the middle lane is the most stable. In China, this bidirectional 4-lane design is commonly seen at highway toll stations, significantly improving traffic efficiency compared to bidirectional 2-lane roads.

[McEvan]

From a road engineering perspective, the standard layout for a bidirectional 4-lane road consists of two traffic lanes on each side of the central divider. Roads with a design speed exceeding 60 km/h require hard separation, which can be either green belts or guardrails. The primary advantage of this design is preventing interference from opposing traffic. For instance, when overtaking in the left lane, drivers don't need to worry about encroaching on oncoming lanes. At high-traffic intersections, lanes are often widened—for example, a dedicated right-turn lane might temporarily expand to three lanes. However, during evening rush hours, vehicles frequently occupy emergency lanes, which is strictly enforced.

[McCecilia]

When taking the driving test, the instructor said that a two-way four-lane road means two lanes in front of you and two lanes in the opposite direction, totaling four lanes. Beginners are most afraid of changing lanes on such roads. Here’s a trick: look at the road arrows—the straight lane is usually on the left, while the right-turn lane is on the outer side. At night, be extra cautious of large trucks; their lights are blinding, and they often occupy two lanes. Recently, many cities have replaced the median barriers with movable guardrails to open passages in emergencies. Shared bikes are the most annoying; they always take up the motor vehicle lanes, forcing us to brake suddenly.