Split lines at an intersection

The Line Intersection tool splits straight and curved line features at intersections or extends them to inferred intersections. You can extend an inferred line or create a segment. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

Existing feature attribute values are copied to the new feature. Field values constrained by attribute domains are determined by the domain split policy defined by the source geodatabase. You can choose how COGO attributes are updated when they exist.

The angular pitch of z-aware features is preserved. New vertices are assigned interpolated z-values. This tool is not available in 3D scenes.

To split line features, complete the following steps:

1. On the Edit tab, choose your snapping preferences, and show the Modify Features pane.
   1. In the Snapping group, click the Snapping drop-down menu and enable your snapping preferences.

      To temporarily turn snapping off while you edit a feature, press and hold the spacebar.

   2. In the Features group, click Modify .
2. In the tool pane, expand Reshape and click Line Intersection .
3. To preserve the existing lines and create a new line to complete an inferred intersection, check Create new lines when extending.
4. If your feature data is COGO-enabled, choose how COGO attributes for straight lines and circular arcs are calculated. This setting has no effect on split lines and arcs.

   Note:

   This setting is available only when a map includes a COGO-enabled layer.

   • Uncheck Recalculate COGO attributes to perform the following calculations to field values:

     Type of edit	Straight lines	Circular arcs
     Extended	All COGO field values are preserved.	All COGO field values are preserved.
     Split	Direction is preserved. Distance is recalculated for both lines.	Direction is recalculated. Radius is preserved. ArcLength is recalculated for both arcs.
     New	Direction is copied to the new line. Distance is set to null.	Direction is set to null. Radius is copied to the new arc. ArcLength is set to null.

   • Check Recalculate COGO attributes to perform the following calculations to field values:

     Type of edit	Straight lines	Circular arcs
     Extended	Direction is preserved. Distance is recalculated.	Direction is recalculated. Radius is preserved. ArcLength is recalculated.
     Split	Direction is preserved. Distance recalculated for both lines.	Direction is recalculated. Radius is preserved. ArcLength is recalculated for both arcs.
     New	Direction is copied to the new line. Distance is calculated for the new line.	Direction is calculated. Radius is copied to the new arc. ArcLength is calculated.

5. Click the two lines you want to split or extend to an inferred intersection.
   1. Click one of the line features.
   2. Click the other line feature.
6. To preview the possible intersections, hover over an actual or inferred intersection or press Tab.

   A temporary point symbol shows where the lines will be split. A temporary dashed line symbol shows how a line will be extended.

7. Click one of the selected lines or press Enter to split the lines at the intersection.