Assignment 1: Geometric Design of Highway (Cross- section elements

and sight distances)

Due: May 29, 2021
Traffic Engineering
Public Works Engineering Department
Name:………………………………………………..…. Class No.: …………………
Question No.1: Draw a reasonable cross section of 4 lane divided highway showing all elements i.e.,
lane width of 12 ft, median width of 20 ft, and shoulder width of 6 ft.
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B. Write short notes about the following:
 Lanes, Shoulder, Medians and cross-slope.
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 Stopping sight distance.
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 Passing sight distance
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Question No.2: A vehicle initially traveling at 55 mph skids to stop on a 3% downgrade, the
pavement surface provides a coefficient of friction equal to 0.3. How far does the vehicle travel
before coming to stop?
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Question No.3: Calculate the minimum required stopping sight distance for a road that has 40 mph
design speed. The reaction time is 3 seconds and the road has a downgrade of 3%.
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Question No.4: Two opposite vehicle are moving on the same lane and it is required to calculate the
minimum safe sight distance to prevent the head-on collision of the two vehicles, knowing that: speed
of the first and second vehicle are 45& 70 mph, respectively, perception and reaction time for the two
vehicles is 2.5 sec, coefficient of friction equals 0.30, and the longitudinal grade is 2% (downgrade)
with respect to the first vehicle.
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Question No.5: Due to the failure of one of the bridges located on Mansoura-Gamasa highway, a
temporary diversion has been constructed. The maximum speed allowed on the diversion is 10 mph.
Determine the minimum distance from the diversion that a road sign should be located informing
drivers of the temporary change on the highway for the following conditions:
 Maximum allowable speed on Mansoura- Gamasa highway= 70 mph.
 Letter height of road sign= 4 inch.
 Coefficient of friction between tires and pavement= 0.25.
 Perception and reaction time= 2.5 sec.
Assume that the driver can read a road sign within his or her area of vision at a distance of 40 ft for
each inch of letter height.
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Question No.6: Two drivers traveling on a down grade of 5% on a highway observe accident at a
distance of 600 ft ahead of them involving an overturned truck, one is obeying a 55 mph speed limit
and the other is travelling illegally at 75 mph. Will any one of them crash with the overturned truck
or they will both stop safely before the accident. Show your calculations. (use t= 2.5 sec and f= 0.3).
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Question No.7: A driver trying to test the braking ability of his car. Determine that he needs 40 ft
more to stop his car downhill on a particular road than uphill when driving at 60 mph. Assuming that
the coefficient of friction between the tires and pavement is 0.3. Determine the braking distance
downhill and the percentage of the grade of the highway at the section of the road.
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