How Wide Are Urban Road Lanes in Meters?
2 Answers
A two-way four-lane highway with a design speed of 60-80 km/h has a subgrade width of 24.5 meters. Two-way four-lane: There are a total of four lanes in both directions, for example, two lanes eastbound and two lanes westbound, making it a two-way four-lane road. According to the relevant national standards, the width of each lane on urban roads is 3.75 meters, the width of each diversion lane at intersections is 2.3-2.5 meters, the width of each lane on arterial roads (including highways) is 3.75 meters, and the shoulder (emergency stopping lane on highways) is 1.5-3.5 meters wide. Different types of two-way four-lane roads: Two-way four-lane highway: Designed for speeds of 60-80 km/h, the road has a width of four lanes. A median strip and green belt can be set up in the middle, with each lane being 3.75 meters wide. When necessary, a non-motorized vehicle lane of more than 3.5 meters and a sidewalk of more than 4 meters must be established. Two-way four-lane expressway: Designed for speeds of 80-120 km/h, the road has a width of four lanes and two emergency lanes. A median strip is set up in the middle, with high-grade pavement made of asphalt concrete or cement concrete. It is 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 designed as overpasses, pedestrian bridges, or underpasses.
After driving for over a decade, I finally realized that urban road widths aren't uniform. Main city arteries can stretch up to 3.75 meters, ideal for high-volume traffic, while secondary roads or branch lanes often narrow to around 3.0 meters—particularly noticeable in older districts where alleyways sometimes shrink to just 2.8 meters. This directly impacts lane-changing safety. From personal experience, narrow lanes increase side-scraping risks, so I advise beginners to practice on wider routes. That said, most roads maintain a balanced 3.25m-3.5m width for spatial and traffic efficiency. During rush-hour jams, broader lanes definitely ease that claustrophobic squeeze.
