V.
HIGHWAY DRAINAGE
Drainage is defined as the means of
collecting, transporting and
disposing of surface water
originating in or near the right-of-
way, or flowing in stream crossings
or bordering the right-of-way.
Classification of Highway
Drainage
1. Surface Drainage
It is meant the drainage of
surface water produced by rainfall
on roadway and from areas other
than the right-of-way.
For the purpose of a
satisfactory surface drainage a
larger cross slope is required if the
road surface has irregularities. In
normal cases however, it is 1.5 to
2.0% for cement concrete or asphalt
concrete pavement and 2.0 to 5.0%
for other roads.
For urban areas, the distance
between curb inlet and manhole
should be at least 30 meters and if
possible 40 meters.
2. Subsurface Drainage
It is intended to reduce the
groundwater level and to intercept
and drain water infiltrating from the
adjoining areas and road surface or
rising from the sub-grade.
An asphalt mixture which has
been submerged under water can
lose from 50% to 75% of its dry
strength.
Whenever practicable the
water table should be prevented
from rising to within 0.60 meter
below the bottom of the sub-base.
Chapter 5
3. Slope Drainage
It is constructed to protect
slopes from erosion or stability
decline which is caused by surface
water on the cuts, fills and natural
slopes or by groundwater oozing to
the slope surface.
4. Drainage of Structures
It is provided in removing
stored water from the backfill of
structures and surface runoff on
bridges caused by rainfall.
Inlets
It receives runoff at grade
and permits the water to flow
downward into underground storm
drain.
Inlets are a key element of
storm water systems. They are
engineered to withstand highway
traffic, aircraft traffic, and other load
requirements.
Types of Inlets
1. Drop Inlet - box type structure
that is located in pipe
segments of a storm sewer
collection system.
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 2. Curb Inlet - consists of a vertical
opening in a curb through
which gutter flow passes.
3. Gutter Inlet - is a horizontal
opening in a gutter that is
protected by a single grate or
multiple grates through which
the gutter flow passes.
CLASSIFICATION OF DRAINAGE
Chapter 5
4. Combination Inlet - consists of
both gutter and curb inlets
with the gutter inlet placed in
front of the curb inlet.
Storm Sewer
It is underground pipes that receive
the runoff from a roadside inlet for
conveyance and discharge into a
body of water away from the road.
Culverts
It is a closed conduit for passage of
runoff from one open channel to
another.
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 SUB-GRADE DRAIN

Chapter 5 3