UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Week 2: Highway Development and Planning

Classification of Roads

Roads and Highways- defined as strips of land that have been improved and clean in order for the
people and goods to be transported.

Roads- generally used to described a public through fare and somewhat a boarder application in usage.
It can also refer to railways.

Highways- describe as a public road that built by digging ditches on both side and heaping up the earth
in the middle creating a way higher than the adjacent land.

Expressway- Superior types of roads facilities designed for high traffic volume and high speed. Is a divided
arterial highway for throughout traffic with full or partial access and generally provided with grade
separation at major intersection.

Freeway- an expressway with fully controlled access

Classification of
Roads

Based on Traffic Based on

General
Volume Pavement

Light Traffic Bituminous

Urban Road
Road Road

Medium Traffic
Non Urban Road Concrete Roads
Road

High Traffic
Road

Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 1

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

A. General – Usually, roads are classified into main two categories.

Urban Roads- Roads which are located within the cities, town, and other inhabited areas and come
under the jurisdiction of municipalities, cantonment boards and post trusts.

Functional System of Urban Roads

a.) Urban Principal Arterial System- an arterial

route that carries traffic to the nearest access
point or through traffic. It carries a high portion
of the total vehicle-miles of travel within urban
area. The system also serves trips that bypass
the central business districts (CBDs) of urbanized
areas
b.) Urban Minor Arterial System- Streets and
highways that interconnect with and augment
the urban primary arterials are classified as
urban minor arterials. Both arterial and sub
arterial are roads that are primarily for through
traffic on a continuous route.
c.) Urban Collector Street System – The main purpose of streets within this system is to collect
traffic from local streets in residential areas or in CBDs and convey it to the arterial system.
Large commercial enterprises or amusement facilities like drive in theaters are mostly fronting
arterial road where the collector street usually go through.
d.) Urban Local Street System- is defined as street or road primarily for access to abutting
properties like residence, business, or other adjoining properties and to the collector street. It
is also a road that constructed and maintained by the local government.

Assignment: #2

1. Discuss briefly the different category of a Functional System or Rural Roads.

B. Based on Capacity

a.) Light Traffic Road -A roads which are carrying 400 vehicles on daily average. The 400
vehicles per day split between very-low volume and low-volume is basically a line where
the number of vehicles in the busiest hour of the day is about 1 vehicle per minute.
b.) Medium Traffic Road- A road which has a capacity of carrying 400-100 of vehicles per day.
c.) High Traffic Road- A road that has more than 100 vehicles on daily average.

C. Based on Pavement

Pavement -is a structure that separates the tires of a vehicle from underlying foundation material
it could be soil, a structural concrete or a bridge deck.
Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 2
UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Rigid Pavement- is constructed from cement concrete or reinforced concrete slab

The Design of a rigid pavement is based on providing a structural cement concrete slab of
sufficient strength to resist the loads from traffic.

flexible pavement- a pavement that consist a mixture of asphaltic or bituminous material and
aggregate placed on a bed of compacted granular material of appropriate quality in layers over
the subgrade.

Rigid Pavement Flexible Pavement

The loads distributed over a wide area of The load distributed through the
the subgrade components layer
Change in temperature induced stresses Change in temperature does not affect or
produce stresses
Deformation and settlement are The deformation due to heavy trucks are
permanent resolvable because flexible pavement has
its self-healing properties
The structural strength is provided by Stability depends on the aggregate
pavement slab itself acting as a beam interlock, particle, friction and its
cohesion
Long life with extreme durability Shorter lifespan due to heavy use
Low maintenance High maintenance
Strong edges Weak edges that may require special
devices

I. Road Patterns

Rectangular Pattern/Block pattern:

• In this pattern, the whole area is divided into rectangular blocks of plots, with street intersecting
at right angles.

Advantages:

1. The rectangular plots may be further divided

into small rectangular blocks for construction
of buildings placed blocks to blocks having
roads on their front. The construction and
maintenance of roads of this pattern is
comparatively easier.

Disadvantages

Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 3

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

1. This pattern is not very much convenient from traffic point view, because at the intersections, the
vehicle faces each other.
2. Can increase the rate of accidents due to poor visibility at a perpendicular junction.

Radial (Star) and Circular Pattern

• It is the pattern in which the radial roads radiated from the central point and are connected with
concentric roads (ring roads) that are also radiating outwardly.

Advantages:

1. It is safe as compared from other pattern because vehicles

travel in the same direction.
2. Roundabouts present in this pattern improves the efficiency
of traffic flow.
3. Using a circular pattern in place of traffic signals reduces the
possibility of rear end crushes.

Disadvantage:

1. Providing good curve during the construction of this pattern is quite challenging.
2. If affect the driving ability. (ex. Cognitive function)
3. There is necessary of proper provision of the traffic signals, road markings and lighting to alert the
drivers that they approaching roundabout.

Radial and Grid Pattern

Radial network of road radiated from the center

outwardly, then, the main radial streets are
interconnected by providing grid pattern.

Advantages:

1. It increases the efficient of land

usage and unit density
2. It reduces the cut-through traffic
3. It provides high safety to vehicular
traffic.

Disadvantages:

Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 4

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

1. High Construction cost because of the need for extra traffic signals, road markings and
lighting.

Hexagonal Pattern

The entire are is being divided into hexagonal pattern. A three

roads meet the built-up area boundary by the sides of the
hexagons at every corner of the hexagon which can be further
divided in suitable sizes.

II. Highway Planning and Programming

A. Planning Difficulties
Engineers are aware that the Roadway should have a good quality. It needs to be safe,
useful and durable but the highway planner confronted these three main problems.
• politician plays a big factor in planning
•Highway development plan or in implementing the road project.
•Our technical personnel lost
sometimes has the Politician have now control over the their confidence because
temporarily lack of fund DPWH project so, even we have their work is of this kind
developmenr plan that carefully studied
because of this some of the by the technical experts it easy to twist that it is not depend on
ongoing project forcedly or to flexed down the project. their work but the final
Sometimes rational planning is not the
need to stop. main objective it depends on the decision is based on the
political decision or interest interest of the politician

Financial Political Technical

There are three sets of inputs involved in highway programming that are inseparable from each other.
Financial- the
question of who will
pay, where to get the
fund, and how much
money is needed.
Political or Economic- deals with
Administration- the question of
involve the execution where to get the
and decision making. resources needed.

Project is
prioritized

Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 5

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

In highway programming, a project is prioritized if both economic, financial, and interest of the
politician are met at the same time.

● Involvement of the Community- In a Democratic country the voice of the community

(may it be a private or a public person) should be heard because he/she has that right.
Here are some reasons why we need to have a public hearing or a community
Involvement

1. By actively participating in Public hearing, they help to enhance the quality of

planning, they may have a lack of understanding of some of the principles and
processes in planning but, they also bring new perspective and valuable information
that can help some dilemmas in planning.
2. To avoid Public opposition that may result in expensive slowing or stopping of the
project. Projects that have a public approval are unlikely to have experience of any
kind of interruption.
3. Create a special staff that will help to carry out this function which means giving a job
for them.
III. Location of the Proposed Highway
B. Highway Location- concerned with the gathering of pertinent data for more effective
highway planning, design, construction and operation.
We have 4 stages to conduct a location of Highways in Rural Areas.

Office Study of
Reconnaissance Preliminary Final location
existing
survey location survey survey
information

Office Study- This phase is usually carried out in the office prior to any field or
photogrammetric investigation. The following characteristics of the area:
• Engineering- Include topography, geology, climate, traffic volumes
• Social and Demographic- include the land use and zoning patterns
• Environmental- including the types of wildlife; location of recreational, historic, and
archeological sites; and the possible effects of air, noise, and water pollution
• Economic- include the unit costs for construction and the trend of agricultural, commercial,
and industrial activities

Reconnaissance Survey- Feasible routes are identified by a stereoscopic examination of

the aerial photographs, taking into consideration factors such as:

• Terrain and soil conditions

• Serviceability of route to industrial and population areas
• Crossing of other transportation facilities, such as rivers, railroads, and highways
• Directness of route.

Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 6

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Preliminary Location Survey- During this phase of the study, the positions of the feasible
routes are set as closely as possible by establishing all the control points and determining
preliminary vertical and horizontal alignments for each. Preliminary alignments are used
to evaluate the economic and environmental feasibility of the alternative routes.

Economic Evaluation- Factors usually taken into consideration include road user costs,
construction costs, maintenance costs, road user benefits, and any disbenefits, which may
include adverse impacts due to dislocation of families, businesses, and so forth.

Environmental Evaluation- Construction of a highway at any location will have a

significant impact on its surroundings. In general, the requirements call for the submission
of environmental impact statements for many projects. These statements should include

• A detailed description of alternatives

• The probable environmental impact, including the assessment of positive and
negative effects
• An analysis of short-term impact as differentiated from long-term impact
Chapter 14 Highway Surveys and Locations 695
• Any secondary effects, which may be in the form of changes in the patterns of
social and economic activities
• Probable adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided if the project is
constructed
• Any irreversible and irretrievable resources that have been committed.

Final Location Survey- The final location survey is a detailed layout of the selected
route. The horizontal and vertical alignments are determined, and the positions of
structures and drainage channels are located.

IV. Road Alignment

A. Types of Alignment

The position of the layout of the center

line of the highway on the ground is
called the alignment.

Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 7

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Horizontal Alignment- The horizontal alignment is a series of horizontal tangents (straight roadway
sections), circular curves, and spiral transitions used for the roadway’s geometry.

• Straight path
• Curves

Vertical Alignment- generally defined as the presence of Heights and Depth in vertical axis with respect
to horizontal axis. These Heights and Depth in roads may be in form of gradients. Vertical alignment
specifies the elevation of points along a roadway. The elevation of these roadway points is usually
determined by the need to provide an acceptable level of driver safety, driver comfort, and proper
drainage (from rainfall runoff).

• Vertical Curves
• Vertical Gradient

B. Importance of Alignment

Improper alignment of the road may result to one or more of the following disadvantages:

Increase in Increase in
Increase in cost Increase in
maintenance vehicle
construction accident rates
cost operation cost

C. Elements of a good design of alignment

Short- desirable to have a short alignment between the two terminal stations.
Easy- easy to construct and maintain the road with minimum problem also easy for operation of
vehicle.
Safe- safe enough for construction and maintenance from the view point of stability of natural hill
slope, embankment and cut slope also safe for traffic operation.
Economical- total cost including initial cost, maintenance cost and vehicle cost should be
minimum.

D. Factors controlling alignment:

Obligatory Points- a point which the alignment is going to pass (Examples: bridge site,
intermediate town, mountains pass etc. Also, remember the obligatory point through which the
alignment should not pass (examples: religious place, costly structure, unsuitable lands, historical
lands and etc.)

Earthwork, Materials and Land Agriculture-

✓ To avoid excessive cutting and filling, the alignment should be changed where found
necessary.
Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 8
UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

✓ Earthwork should be balance.

✓ Location may be near sources of embankment and pavement material.
✓ The alignment of roads should be decided so that costly agricultural land and dense
forests are avoided for the acquisition of the land.

Traffic- the alignment should be provided according to the type of vehicular traffic. For example:
(for fast moving traffic, the road alignment should be as straight as possible.

Geometric Design- Design factors such as gradient, radius of curve and sight distance also govern
the final alignment of the highways. When designing avoid a sharp horizontal curves and road
intersection near bend.
Topographic control points- The alignment, where possible should avoid passing through.

✓ Marshy and low-lying land with poor drainage

✓ Flood prone areas
✓ Unstable hilly features
Other consideration:
a.) Existing right of way
b.) Public demand
c.) Cross drainage work

V. Read

Read Part 4 (Location, Geometrics, and Drainage) – 14 Highway Surveys and Location: (page 701-
723) Book Title: "Traffic and Highway Engineering, Fourth Edition,"

VI. Reference

N. J. G. a. L. A. Hoe, "Traffic and Highway Engineering, Fourth Edition," in Location,Geometric and

Drainage, Toronto,Canada, Nelson Education Ltd., pp. 693-701.

M. B. F. Jr., Elements of Roads and Highways, 24 Bell St., Filhomes II Batasan Hills, Quezon
City,Philippines: 5138 TRADING, 2002.

VII. Exercise

Please refer to your BB account for your Activity 2

Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 9

UNIVERSITY OF NUEVA CACERES COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

Highway Engineering and Railroad By: JUDY BRAVO TORDILLA, RCE 10