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1. Define the following:

a. Highway median

A highway media is the space that divides oncoming traffic from those traveling in the

same direction. Where there are separate lanes moving in the opposing directions, a road median

is frequently employed. A "two-way" movement is therefore changed into a "one-way"

movement by the road median. Additionally, it serves as a place where vehicles can do a U-turn

and enter or depart the traffic. Additionally, it offers room for landscaping and other decorative

elements that can make roads more attractive.

b. Grade line

It is described as a measurement of how the highway's centerline rises and falls using its

longitudinal profile. A profile taken along the road's centerline shows the grade line. It is
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composed of a collection of straight lines joined together by vertical parabolic curves to which

straight grades are tangent.

c. Stopping sight distance

Stopping Sight Distance (SSD) is the minimum sight distance for the driver to stop

without colliding at any point of the highway. It is the length of road which is visible to the

driver at any instant. It can be formally defined as the minimum sight distance for the driver to

stop without colliding at any point of the highway. It depends on:

● Total reaction time of the driver

● Speed of vehicle

● Efficiency of brakes

● Gradient of road

● Friction
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d. Road alignment

Road alignment is the positioning of the centerline of the highway or road. It is also

called highway alignment. Simply, it is the direction through which the road will pass. It

provides proper guidance to pass the road through the path which is most economical, easy to

construct, and free from conflicts.


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e. Super Elevation - Runoff

When a motorist drives through a curve, the roadway is often tilted or banked at an angle,

making it easier to navigate the curve at a safe speed without skidding or tipping. This is

superelevation at work.

Superelevation helps motorists maintain both safety and optimal speeds on curved roads.

Without superelevation, many vehicles would slide or skid through curves — or even tip and roll

over — especially in wet or icy conditions, or at high speeds. It also allows traffic to maintain

some speed on curves, preventing excessive slowdowns every time the road bends.
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References

Inc, BigRentz. “What Is Superelevation and How Does It Keep Roads Safer? | BigRentz.”

Https://Www.bigrentz.com, 19 July 2021, www.bigrentz.com/blog/superelevation.

“Median in a Road – Types of Medians - Raised - Flushed - Depressed [PDF].” Definecivil, 23

Apr. 2022, definecivil.com/median-in-a-road/. Accessed 13 Aug. 2022.

shambhu. What Is Road Alignment ( Highway Alignment ) ? : 15 Principles, Factors Controlling

& Steps in Design of Road Alignment. 17 Dec. 2019,

dreamcivil.com/road-alignment/#:~:text=Road%20alignment%20is%20the%20positionin

g. Accessed 13 Aug. 2022.

“Stopping Sight Distance | Overview and Calculation.” APSEd,

www.apsed.in/civil-engineering/stopping-sight-distance.

Coursehero.com, 2022, www.coursehero.com/file/78093794/GRADE-LINEpptx/. Accessed 13

Aug. 2022.

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