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00 Introduction To Highway Engineering PDF

Highway engineering involves the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of roads, bridges and tunnels. It considers how to design safe and effective transportation infrastructure for people and goods. Highway engineering has expanded to also focus on intelligent transportation systems. In the Philippines, the government is working to develop the road network through programs like Build, Build, Build which is constructing new highways and expressways. However, highway planners face difficulties like limited funds, projects being influenced by politics rather than technical expertise, and loss of public confidence.

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775 views14 pages

00 Introduction To Highway Engineering PDF

Highway engineering involves the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of roads, bridges and tunnels. It considers how to design safe and effective transportation infrastructure for people and goods. Highway engineering has expanded to also focus on intelligent transportation systems. In the Philippines, the government is working to develop the road network through programs like Build, Build, Build which is constructing new highways and expressways. However, highway planners face difficulties like limited funds, projects being influenced by politics rather than technical expertise, and loss of public confidence.

Uploaded by

JustinOliver
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Highway

Engineering
Presented By: Juniffen I. Tacadena
What is Highway Engineering?

Highway Engineering is a specialized field within the discipline of Transportation


Engineering that involves the planning, design, construction, operation, and
maintenance of roads, bridges, and tunnels to ensure safe and effective
transportation of people and goods.

Highway Engineering considers all aspects related to the design of the roads
themselves, as well as how pedestrians are managed. Highway Engineering has
expanded to include a new area of focus for this discipline on the implementation
and use of intelligent transport systems that will eventually revolutionize the way
humans travel day to day.
What is Road Building?

Road Building is defined as the art and science of construction, rehabilitation and
maintenance of existing roadway facilities.
It is a continuous process of study and research, for up to this time there is no
definite solution yet formulated to avert road failures.
Brief History of Roads

Early roads with hard surfaces were found in the land of Mesopotamia. These
roads were constructed as early as 3, 500 B.C.

These early road systems were constructed primarily for the following purposes:
1. For the movement of armies in their conquest and for defense against invasion.
2. For transport of food and trade of goods between neighboring towns and
cities.
Who introduces the first Concrete Pavement?

The Romans, who discovered cement, expanded their vast empire through
extensive road networks radiating in many directions from the capital city of Rome.
Many of the roads built by the Romans still exist after 2,000 years.
Brief History of Roads

In 1700s, Jerome Tresaguet, French Engineer introduces new methods and


maintenance of stone roads by improving the crown, the drainage and the grade of
the road. He was accredited as the “Father of Modern Road Building”.

England followed the ongoing highway development started by France. The


Macadam road concept named after John Louden Mac Adam, a Scottish Engineer,
was developed and widely accepted.
Highway in the Philippines

In the 1900s, transportation in the Philippines depends mainly on trails, waterways,


railroads, earth roads and partially graveled roads/macadam roads.

The American government initiated the development of roadways in the country


connecting towns, cities and provinces.
After the second World War, the government continued the rehabilitation and
construction of roads and bridges through war damages paid by the Japanese
government. Others coming from financial grants by the US government.
50 years later , major highways and expressways were constructed through the
financial assistance and loans from foreign banks.
Highway in the Philippines

Statistics revealed that more than 80,000 brand new vehicles were added to their
lists every year. The DPWH must open 400 kilometers new roads every year. With
this statistics, traffic problems are expected to worsen year after year.

The year 1960-1980 was considered an automobile age. It was during this decade
that road construction becomes a matter of priority of the government.

Today, the government is still on progress of developing our road networks through
its “Build, Build, Build” Program.
Build, Build, Build (The New Clark City Project, Clark, Pampanga)
Build, Build, Build (The Central Luzon Link Expressway)
Build, Build, Build (The Metro Cebu Expressway)
Planning Difficulties

Highway planners are confronted with problems categorized as:


1. Financial
2. Political
3. technical
Financial – Appropriations of funds for road constructions and maintenance, meet
severe difficulties that sometimes, highway development plans are shelves
temporarily for lack of funds.
Planning Difficulties

Political – comprehensive road development plans that are carefully studied by


technical experts are twisted, or flexed down by political muscles, to suit political
interests. Roads and highway plans were either deferred, amended or realigned for
political reasons.

Politicians now control DPWH projects as their source of political funds. Highway
District Engineers qualification is simply subservience to the politicians. Listing of
projects given to the district engineer has the corresponding name of favored
contractors.
Planning Difficulties

Technical – as a consequence, public confidence tremendously eroded, not only in


the government’s ability to abate these problems, but also the proficiency of the
technical men to offer solutions.

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