Road Spacing Guide

Much of this information was figured out by various members of the Sim Nation Guild. This guide was originally compiled by Dee Finney, and I've updated it as new information has arisen. It lists how to properly space roads so that you can build efficiently, without a lot of wasted space.

For proper spacing, you will use DIRT ROADS as a "pencil line", and draw them to the specified length (dollar amount) as noted below. You can upgrade those roads later to medium or high density when you're ready to increase your density. You do not want to use high density roads or avenues for this. It's too expensive and the dollar amounts will be much different.

** Flat Terrain **








































Larger Blocks
For each additional building in a row, add $196, thus 
5 x 2 = $1016 x $436, 
6 x 2 = $1212 x $436
7 x 2 = $1408 x $436

Adjustments for avenues
Avenues cost an extra $25 per side. So a 4 x 2 with an avenue on one side would be $820 + $25 = $845 
or with avenues on both sides = $820 + $25 + $25 = $870

** Uneven Terrain **

IMPORTANT! : Adjust for steepness
The numbers above were based on flat land.  If your plot has some slope to it, you'll need to add another $5-$10 per side. For example, instead of $244 (single depth), I like to use $250. For double depth, I use $440. These numbers are rounded off so they're a little bit easier to remember too.


Video Explanation
Dan Stenn of the SimNation Guild did the original calculations which are explained in the video below.



SkyeStorm had slightly larger numbers, which you can see in his 60 second tip below.




How to find the “center” point in the City:
(Square roads layout)

Draw dirt road from corner of map costing $2015 - $2016. Then draw a road toward the center of map costing the same ($2015 - $2016). Then draw a road costing $440 - $441 from the center point if you want to make back to back HD streets. Draw slightly longer roads ($466 - $486) if you will be using avenues.

(Circle roads layout)
Draw dirt road from corner of map costing $2015 - $2016. Then draw a road toward the center of map costing the same ($2015 - $2016). (same as above) Then draw a road from the center point of the city costing $300 minimum so that the circular road will accommodate 3 HD buildings.

Switch to circle road tool and place your mouse at the end of the $300 road. Drag your mouse back to the center point of the map to create your first circle. Switch back to straight road tool, and draw an extension road off of the $300 road costing $462. Switch back to circle road tool, and drag your circle road back to the center point in the city to create your second circle.


More Tips
Here's some additonal road spacing information per the "Road $ Layout" guide, created by Emeric Chen found at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-nV_6gc_lAFz_sAHpQk_SKEs711cMDf95tCtwz9rU0c/edit


Single High Density

ave to street - $272

street to street - $246 *yes (back to back medic center test) better if use $248

ave to ave - $294


Double High Density Zone

street to street - $440

st to ave - $466

ave to ave - $486


University

Front to Back,

Ave to Street, $682

Street to Street $656

side2side w/ room for additions

Ave to Street, $764

Street to Street $736


Convention Center

to draw a road behind convention center

ave to convention center to street - $420

length of convention center is $450

depth: $414

side of convention center must be $260 away in order to build


Stadium

depth: $495

length: $757

(Road spacing and finding center of city info obtained from: Emeric Chen and Skye Storm)

6 comments:

  1. I am a little confused about the numbers. For instance, a single dirt road in a HD block costs $244, however a single road for 2 HD buildings is $436 and not $488... Why? Also, I am not sure if this is a bug or what... But occasionally I will get one block that is at least $250x$250 and the building will report not enough room to upgrade density... But, it looks like it should be fine, for instance I can plop medium wealth single line tree parks on all edges of the block. So, I am not sure what's up with that either...

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    Replies
    1. the extra 50$ is the width the road would be between the buildings that isnt there. The 244$ accounts for the ends of the road that has corners which is why its 200+ 50$ for road ends for a 1HD block road, and 400+50 for the 2HD block road.

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  2. Dan Stenn's video which you can watch above goes into great detail on how he calculated the numbers. Jump ahead to 2:30 to see an illustration of the widths of back to back HD buildings. I've had the same thing occur where you think you have enough room, but it doesn't. It's usually because there's some slope to the ground which increases the space needed. After things start to develop, you can try plopping a high school as a check whether a high density building will fit. On more than one occasion, I've had to go back and adjust because I messed up on my spacing or it has a little too much slope to it.

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  3. Is this the same calculation for industrial or commercial?

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    Replies
    1. Yes. Works for all three. The big industrial factories will have one building instead of two, but it fits nicely. For reference you can see the "Zoned Buildings" section here: http://www.simcityplanningguide.com/2014/02/SimCityBuildingDimensions.html

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    2. I should also add that the 440 spacing also works well with Consumer Electronic and/or processsor factories with an "L" shaped layout as shown in the Electronic Farming Guide http://www.simcityplanningguide.com/2014/08/ElectronicFarmingGuideForSimCity.html

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