TURN-AROUNDS AND SECONDARY
DRIVES
TURN-AROUNDS AND SECONDARY DRIVES When the garage,
or service, is so located that a car must
turn back after stopping at the front door
in order to reach it, a turn-court or turn-around
must be provided. This should be large
enough so that even the longest car can
turn easily. At present the turning radius
of passenger cars is less than 56 feet,
so that dimension can be considered as
a maximum, with 40 feet as a minimum for
a solidly paved court.
For a turn-around
somewhat larger dimensions are used to
permit the grass island in the center to
be big enough to look well. If this grass
plot is too small it becomes insignificant
and silly. As the drive passes to the garage
it should still travel in as straight a
line as possible; but as speed will in
all probability be less, the planting
need not be quite so restricted. Screening
groups of shrubs and evergreens to hide,
or at least obscure, the garage and service
from the front part of the house may be
used.
Trees, too, are important here. If,
as is sometimes the case, minor driveways
lead off in this general vicinity, care
must be observed inlaying them out. If
traffic from both directions is about equal,
they would best start at right angles to
the main drive, and curve away to their
destination later; if the traffic is predominantly from one direction, they follow
this and merely leave room for a possible
turn into the main drive in the opposite direction.
The radius of this shorter turn ought not
to be less than 40 feet, measured to the center
of the drive. At the garage an ample turn-space
is needed. A court 30 by 30 feet can be
used by small cars, but 40 by so, or 49 up to
6o feet square, is better if space permits. In
very restricted places a Y turn is the
best solution, permitting backing around in the least possible space.The
shape of the turn-court may be' varied
from circular to square, or any other pleasing
shape. Driveway construction 1
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