Skip navigation

Road Design

Cover of Updates to Austroads Guide to Road Design: Parts 1, 3, 4, 4A, 6, 6A, 6B and 7
Updates to Austroads Guide to Road Design: Parts 1, 3, 4, 4A, 6, 6A, 6B and 7
  • Publication no: AP-R766-26
  • ISBN: 978-1-923617-59-9
  • Published: 29 June 2026

The purpose of this report is to outline the outcomes of Austroads project Update to Austroads Guide to Road Design (AGRD): Addressing Identified Guidance Gaps and Inconsistencies. The aim of the project was to improve road safety by reducing fatalities and serious injuries through the integration of Safe System principles into the planning, design, management, and operation of the road network. The project focused on addressing selected road design guidance gaps, resolving identified inconsistencies, exploring opportunities for harmonisation, and documenting potential areas for further updates.

Updates to the Austroads Guide to Road Design were implemented in 2 stages through multiple workstreams. Stage 1 included updates based on the outputs of Austroads projects SRD6296 Guide to Road Design Update – All User Groups and All Stereotypes and SRD6321 Safe System Median Treatments, as well as the correction of various errors and inconsistencies. Stage 2 focused on updates delivered through 3 key workstreams: Workstream 1.3 Batter Slopes, Workstream 1.8 Consistent Speed Terminology, and Workstream 1.10 Intersection Sight Distance, alongside further corrections to errors and inconsistencies.

This report provides a comprehensive summary of the updates made to the Austroads Guide to Road Design and highlights opportunities for continued improvement in road design guidance

  • 1. Introduction
    • 1.1 Purpose
    • 1.2 Scope
  • 2. Summary of Updates
    • 2.1 Stage 1
      • 2.1.1 AGRD Part 1: Objectives of Road Design
      • 2.1.2 AGRD Part 3: Geometric Design
      • 2.1.3 AGRD Part 4: Intersections and Crossings
      • 2.1.4 AGRD Part 4A: Unsignalised and Signalised Intersections
      • 2.1.5 AGRD Part 6: Roadside Design Safety and Barriers
      • 2.1.6 AGRD Part 6A: Paths for Walking and Cycling
      • 2.1.7 AGRD Part 6B: Roadside Environment
      • 2.1.8 AGRD Part 7: New and Emerging Treatments
    • 2.2 Stage 2
      • 2.2.1 AGRD Part 3: Geometric Design
      • 2.2.2 AGRD Part 4A: Unsignalised and Signalised Intersections
      • 2.2.3 AGRD Part 6: Roadside Design Safety and Barriers
      • 2.2.4 Updating batter slope guidance
      • 2.2.5 Consistent speed terminology
      • 2.2.6 Updating intersection sight distance
  • References
Related publications
Guide to Road Design: Set
AGRD-SET
View all related publications
Latest Road Design News
15 Apr 2026
New Austroads guidance putting people at the centre of safer road system design

Road transport systems involve complex interactions between people, vehicles, technology and the road environment. Understanding how human behaviour interacts with these elements underpins coordinated system design, assessment and operation to improve road safety.
26 Feb 2026
New Austroads research strengthens guidance on working widths for concrete safety barriers

Austroads has released new research that updates recommended working widths for concrete road safety barriers, providing clearer guidance to support safer roadside and infrastructure design across Australia and New Zealand.
View all news