A 3-way junction is a standard highway intersection design. It consists of three road branches meeting at a single point. In a T-junction, one road ends perpendicular to a continuous through-road. A Y-junction features three roads merging at acute angles. Traffic control at these junctions typically uses stop signs, yield signs, or roundabouts. Designing these intersections requires careful planning of sightlines to prevent accidents.
Mechanic Glossary
3-Way Junction Or 3-Way Intersection
A road intersection where three road segments meet, typically configured as a T-junction or Y-junction.
Frequently Asked Questions
A T-junction has one road meeting a main road at a 90-degree angle. A Y-junction has roads meeting at sharper, diagonal angles.
Typically, traffic on the terminating road must yield to vehicles on the through-road, unless signs or a roundabout indicate otherwise.
Modern traffic planning favors roundabouts over stop signs because they slow down traffic and reduce T-bone collisions.