The connected alignment feature in Civil 3D extends alignment capabilities to provide transitions between alignments and define a profile that transitions between them as well. In other words, your project that requires intersections, widenings, designing a new road to connect to an existing, as well as a host of other purposes can benefit from the use of connected alignments.
Connected alignments require that two intersecting alignments exist in the drawing of which will be used to create the connected alignment between them. To launch the tool, select the Alignment button on the ribbon and from there select Create Connected Alignment.
During the course of creating connected alignments, a profile will be produced that will connect to the profiles of the originating alignment profiles. Options for the cross slope or change in elevations are available within the workflow. A dynamic link between the originating alignment and profiles results in the connected alignment and profile to update should they change.
Varying curve types are available to choose from: Circular Fillet, Spiral-Curve-Spiral, Reverse Spiral-Spiral-Curve-Spiral, Reverse Spiral-Curve-Spiral-Spiral, Reverse Spiral-Spiral-Curve-Spiral-Spiral, and Three Centered Arc and their corresponding parameters. There are also options for degree of curvature, left and right offset distances, and a connection overlap. The profile parameters include cross slope or delta elevation where the new profile will connect to each existing profile as well as profile curve type parameters.
Connected alignments can be beneficial when unique requirements drive design and the intersection feature in Civil 3D is not a good fit to model an intersection in your project, for example.
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