Transportation Engineering

Stopping Sight Distance: Vertical Curves

Problem Set

1. A highway curve has been designed according to AASHTO criteria that assume the driver's
height of eye to be 1070 mm (3.5 ft) above the pavement. The design speed is 100 km/hr, and
the algebraic difference in grades is 3.0 %. Suppose the automobile manufacturers change
automobile design, causing the average height of eye to be 914 mm (3.0 ft). What would be the
implications regarding the design of the curve? (Ans. 34 m increase in the minimum vertical
curve length)

2. An equal tangent crest vertical curve connects a +1.0% and a -0.5% grade. The PVC is at
station 14 + 890.000 and PVI is at station 15 + 150.200. Is this curve long enough to provide
passing-sight distance at a 100 kph design speed? (Ans. No, 520 m provided, but 720 m
required as a minimum)

3. Calculate the stopping sight distance over the crest of a 450 m vertical curve with a plus grade
of 5.6 % and a minus grade of 3.2 %. (Ans. 144 m)

4. Calculate the stopping sight distance over the crest of a 1500 ft vertical curve with a plus grade
of 4.4 % and a minus grade of 2.3 %. (Ans. 545 ft)

5. Calculate the passing sight distance over the crest described in problem 3. (Ans. 220 m)

6. Calculate the passing sight distance over the crest described in problem 4. (Ans. 832 ft)

7. Extra Credit: See problem and figure on the following page. (Partial Ans. Sag Curve PVI =
0+088.889 and the Crest Curve PVI = 0+313.889)