FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL

ENGINEERING

BCE 3203: Highway Engineering

Course Code: BCE 3203
Credits: 4 CU
Course Instructor: Niyomukiza John Bosco, B. Eng., M. Eng. (Civil)
Email: niyojayb1992@gmail.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Highway Engineering course trains students to acquiring knowledge and skills in the planning,
designing, supervision and maintenance of roads. The course generally covers the areas of road
construction materials like soil/gravel, binders, aggregates, stabilizers, filters, etc., stabilization
practice, mix design and structural design aspects for flexible and rigid pavements, drainage and
maintenance using machine and labor based methods.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course unit, students should be able to:
a) Conduct and analyze data from test methods used to assess materials used in road
construction.
b) Independently use various standard approaches in planning and designing of paved and
unpaved roads.
c) Understand the causes of deterioration and hence poor performance of roads.
d) Understand the methods used to assess road condition.

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BCE 3203 Lecture Notes by JB Niyomukiza
 e) Undertake design, and evaluate maintenance of surface and subsurface drainage.
f) Develop road maintenance and rehabilitation plans.
g) Oversee implementation of maintenance and rehabilitation plans of roads.

COURSE CONTENT
1. Introduction to Highway Engineering
 History of road development,
 Road development plans,
 Types and classes of roads.

2. Road location, Earthworks and Compaction of Soils

 Route selection and location survey
 Centerline location and carriageway staking
 Soil surveys and site investigations
 Earthwork equipment, cuts/fills and haulage.

3. Highway Pavement Materials

 Soils for roads (AASHTO classification, compaction and tests)
 Soil stabilization (lime, cement and bitumen stabilizers)
 Binders- Bitumen, cutbacks, emulsions (production and properties)
 Recycled materials
 Additives-Lime, cement, polymers, amines, etc.,
 Mix design concepts.

4. Design of Highway Pavements- Flexible and Rigid

 Types of pavements- Flexible, rigid, composite, earth roads and low cost roads
 Alignment- Cross-section elements, design speeds, sight distances, horizontal and vertical
alignment, gradients, climbing lanes, Intersection design and widening of circular curves
 Structural design of flexible and rigid highway pavements
 Environmental Impact Assessment of Highway Projects.

5. Pavement Drainage
 Basic principles and concepts
 Estimation of runoff from catchments — hydrological principles,
 Design of hydraulic drainage facilities
 Design of subsurface drainage systems

6. Construction and Maintenance of Paved and Gravel Road

 Equipment in road construction and maintenance
 Pavement condition survey methods
 Distresses on road surfaces
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BCE 3203 Lecture Notes by JB Niyomukiza
  Evaluation of structural condition of pavements
 Mechanized and labour based methods for road maintenance.

7. Practicals

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course unit, students should be able to:
a) Survey possible routes; assess traffic flow, measure subgrade strength.
b) design parking yard for a given institution
c) supervise the construction of road pavements
d) carry out structural design of pavements
e) develop knowledge and skills in pavement construction

MODE OF DELIVERY
The mode of delivery is through lectures, tutorials and practicals.

COURSE ASSESSMENT
Continuous assessment tests 20%
Group project (course work) 20%
End-of-Semester Examination 60%
Total 100%

REFERENCES:

1. Arora, K. R, 2000, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 5th Edition.

2. Bindra, S.P, 1999, A Course in Highway Engineering, 4th Edition, Dhanpat Rai Publishers, New
Delhi.
3. Gupta, B.L, 1995, Roads, railways Bridges and Tunnels engineering, 4th edition, Standard
publishers Distributors, Nai sarak, Delhi.
4. Kadiyali, L.R., 2000. Principles and Practices of Highway Engineering, 4th Edition. Khanna
Publishers, New Delhi.
5. Ministry of Works, Housing and Communications, 2004. Draft Road Design Manual.
6. Ministry of Works, Housing and Communications, 2005. Road Design Manual Vol.1,
Geometric Design Manual, Republic of Uganda, Kampala.

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7. Rogers, M., 2003, Highway Engineering, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
8. Singh, G, 2001, Highway Engineering, 3rd edition, Standard publishers and Distributors, Delhi.
10. Transport Research Laboratory, 1993, A Guide to Design of Bitumen Surfaced Roads in
Tropical and Sub Tropical Countries, Overseas Road Note 31, Crowthorne, England.

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BCE 3203 Lecture Notes by JB Niyomukiza