You can use the connected alignments feature to create an alignment that transitions between two intersecting alignments and to create a profile that transitions between their profiles.
You can use this feature to create a curb return, an exit ramp, a merging/diverging road, or you can connect an existing road with a proposed road.
The connected alignment is created between the two intersecting alignments at a specified radius.
The geometry of the connected profile is automatically generated from the parent profiles that you select. The start and end elevations and slope are taken from the parent profiles, and the middle section of the connected profile is calculated depending on whether extensions of the parent profiles intersect.
Editing the geometry of a connected alignment or profile
When you create a connected alignment and associated profile, by default they are set to dynamic state, which means that they will partially update if their parent alignments and profiles change. You can change the update mode to static if you want to prevent any updates from occurring and if you want full editing control over the alignment and profile.
- The geometry of the overlapping parts on both the connected alignment and profile is locked to the parent alignments and profiles when in a dynamic state and cannot be edited. These overlapping segments will update if the parent alignments and profiles update.
- The stations between the overlapping parts of a dynamic connected profile can be edited.
Important: This area will not be dynamic to the parent alignments and profiles and will not update if they update.
- A dynamic connected alignment can be edited in the following ways:
- Radius: You can use the circular grip at the center of the curve to edit the curve radius, or you can specify a different radius value on the Connection Parameters tab of the Alignment Properties dialog box.
- Overlap: You can use the diamond-shaped grips at the ends of the connected alignment to increase or decrease the overlap.
Note: Editing the geometry of a connected alignment in the Layout Parameters window is not supported.
You can change the update mode for a connected alignment on the Connection Parameters tab of the Alignment Properties dialog box.
You can change the update mode for a connected profile on the Profile Data tab of the Profile Properties dialog box.