June 99
mph). The roadway system should allow for funeral corteges to proceed
in a forward direction from entry to departure. The roadway system
should be simple and provide good access to all burial sections. Winding
roads and sweeping curves enhance the beauty of the cemetery.
Roadside landscaping that complements the appearance of the cemetery
should be provided.
The preferred road design includes curbing. In expansions of existing
cemeteries, the road design will follow the master plan. Roads designed
without curbing will have edge reinforcement. Where curbing is used, it
must be mountable (rolled, sloped, flush or battered-face) for traffic
control, equipment access, and drainage control. Design storm drainage
curb and gutter inlets to match the profile of the curb a d/or curb and
n
gutter. No part of the inlet shall be behind the curb. Select the grating for
inlets based on drainage capacity, ability to screen out harmful debris,
ability to pass unobjectionable debris, strength and permanency. Use
vertical curbing on roads within the cemetery only if necessary for traffic
control. Maximum road grade is 10 percent. The entrance road, primary,
and secondary roads are generally wide enough for two-way traffic to
pass a parked vehicle. Preferred minimum road widths and radii are
outlined in the table that follows in this section. Quality in initial
construction and construction materials is critical to the cemetery
roadway system. All roads should support heavy equipment and large
trucks loaded with wet dirt, gravel and headstones.
Parking in the cemetery is accommodated in several ways to meet the
various needs of staff and visitors, as identified in the design criteria for
the specific building/ complex. Typically, cemetery visitors will parallel
park along cemetery roads, or in parallel pull-offs, to visit interment areas
or cemetery features such as the Flag/Assembly Area, Memorial
Walkway, or Public Information Center. Traditional parking lots are not
provided for cemetery visitors.
Entrance Road
The entrance "boulevard" is a divided road, at least at its intersection
with the approach road (public road), and preferably for its full length.
Each side supports one-way traffic, with a passing lane. Entrance roads,
if used as the Funeral Cortege Assembly Area, must be long enough and
wide enough to accommodate waiting funerals without blocking access to
the cemetery.
Primary Road
For the primary cemetery road, a main loop is desirable, allowing one
to drive through the cemetery without turning around. Other configurations
are possible depending on the specifics of the site. The primary road
provides access to all other cemetery roads.
VA Design Guide -- National Cemetery Administration
Page 2 -7
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