Friday, 21 March 2025
Austroads has released an updated edition of the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 1: Objectives of Road Design (AGRD Part 1), which now includes enhanced guidance on identifying and managing design parameter values outside the normal design domain.
Edition 5.2 introduces structured definitions for Extended Design Domains (EDD) and Design Exceptions (DE), along with a high-level suggested process and an example template to assist road designers in making informed, defensible decisions. These updates, found in Sections 4.4 through 4.6 of AGRD Part 1, aim to provide greater clarity and consistency for practitioners working on projects in constrained environments.
The updates stem from a broader Austroads project that reviewed existing practices across Australia and New Zealand to address challenges in designing, upgrading, and constructing road infrastructure where traditional design criteria may be impractical. The supporting report, Update to Guide to Road Design: Objectives of Road Design, outlines the methodology used to develop these recommendations, including literature reviews, stakeholder engagement, and risk-based analysis. The report highlights the importance of balancing flexibility in design with safety, operational performance, and whole-of-life considerations.
Austroads Program Manager of Road Safety and Design Michael Nieuwesteeg welcomed the updates, stating: “These changes provide a much-needed framework for practitioners to navigate complex design challenges with confidence. By clearly defining Extended Design Domains and Design Exceptions, we are ensuring that decision-making is both informed and transparent.
“With growing pressure to deliver infrastructure in constrained environments, these updates to AGRD Part 1 will help make it easier for designers to work outside normal design parameters, more efficiently delivering safety, performance, and sustainability outcomes,” Michael further added.
With these updates, Austroads aims to support road designers, planners, and road authorities in delivering high-standard safety and performance outcomes, while navigating complex project constraints.
Download the Guide and the associated report:
- Guide to Road Design Part 1: Objectives of Road Design [Edition 5.2]
- Update to Guide to Road Design: Objectives of Road Design [Report]
Upcoming Webinar
Join us for a webinar on Thursday 3 April 2025 with Belinda Gibbons and Albert Wong, who will provide an in-depth discussion on the changes to the Guide, the rationale behind them, and how they can be applied in practice. Can’t make the live session? Register and we’ll send you a link to the recording.