WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEP’T OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
YEAR III, SEC. 1&2

HIGHWAY ENGINEERING –I
(CEng 3182)
INSTRUCTOR: BEREKET A.
E-mail: bekadmasu@gmail.com

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 CHAPTER 2: HIGHWAY ROUTE SURVEY AND
LOCATION

OUTLINE
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Requirements of Alignment
2.3. Factors controlling alignment
2.4. Special considerations in Hilly roads
2.5. Engineering surveys for Highway Location (Map Study,
Reconnaissance, Preliminary and Final Surveys)
2.6. Highway drawing and Report Profile
2.7. Steps in New Highway Project

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 2.1. INTRODUCTION
• Highway alignment is defined as the position or
the layout of the centerline of the highway on
the ground
• It includes straight path, curves.

Improper highway alignment would result in:

• Increase in construction cost
• Increase in maintenance cost
• Increase in vehicle operation cost
• Increase in accident rate
Once the road is aligned and constructed, it is not
easy to change the alignment due to increase in
cost of adjoining land and construction of costly
structure.
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 2.2. REQUIREMENTS OF AN IDEAL HIGHWAY
• Short: desirable to have a short optimal alignment
between two terminal stations.
Makes it less expensive (e.g. construction material
consumption, Reduced travel time)
• Easy: easy to construct and maintain the road with
minimum problem also easy for operation of vehicle
• Safe: safe enough for construction and
maintenance from the view point of stability of
natural hill slope, embankment and cut slope also be
safe for traffic operation.
Geometric features: curve sharpness, slope, etc
should consider safe traffic operations
• Economical: Minimum possible
– Initial cost (Construction cost)
– maintenance cost and
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– vehicle operation cost (gradients and curves) 4
 2.3. Factors controlling alignment

• Obligatory points
• Traffic
• Geometric design
• Economics
• Other factors

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 2.3. Factors controlling alignment …cont’d
2.3.1. Obligatory points
• Obligatory points through which alignment
is to pass.
Examples:-bridge site, intermediate town,
Mountain pass
• Obligatory points through which alignment
should not pass.
Examples:- religious places, costly structure,
highly developed expensive areas, unsuitable
land marshes and low lying lands subject to
flooding, hilly terrain where there is a
possibility of land slides etc… 6
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 2.3. Factors controlling alignment …cont’d

2.3.2. Traffic
• The alignment should suit traffic
requirements
• The expected vehicular composition should
be properly identified
• Origin and destination survey should be
carried out in the area and the ‘desired lines’
be drawn showing the trend of traffic flow.
• New road to be aligned should keep in view
the desired lines, traffic flow patterns and
future trends.
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 2.3. Factors controlling alignment …cont’d

2.3.3. Geometric design?

• Gradient, radius of curve, sight distance
• As far as possible while aligning a new
road, the gradient should be flat and
less than the ruling or design gradient.
• Avoid sudden changes in sight distance,
especially near crossings
• Avoid sharp horizontal curves
• Avoid road intersections near bend
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 2.3. Factors controlling alignment …cont’d

2.3.4. Economy
• The alignment finalized based on the
above factors should be economical in
terms of total cost (including initial cost,
maintenance cost and vehicle operation
cost)
• Try to avoid deep cuttings, high
embankments, no of bridges that need to be
constructed, etc.
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 2.3. Factors controlling alignment …cont’d
2.3.5. Other factors
• Drainage considerations (esp. vertical
alignment)
• Hydrological factors (high flood level)
• Political considerations
• Monotony: straight road of very long
stretch may be monotonous for driving

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 2.3. Factors controlling alignment …cont’d
2.3.5. Other factors …cont’d
• Topographical control points:
the alignment, where possible should avoid
passing through Marshy and low lying land
with poor drainage, flood prone areas,
Unstable hilly features.
• Materials and constructional features:
Deep cutting should be avoided.
Alignment should preferably be through
better soil area to minimize pavement
thickness
Location may be near sources of embankment
and pavement materials stability
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 2.5. Special Considerations in Hilly Roads
• A common problem in hilly roads is land sliding (Stability Problem).

• The cutting and filling of the earth to construct the roads on hilly

sides causes steepening of existing slope and affect its stability.

Hence Consider the following:
• Slope Stability – choose the side that is more stable
• Drainage – Numerous hill-side drains to adequately drain the water
across the road (attempts should be made to minimize the number
of cross-drainage structures)

• Geometry

• Resisting Length – calculated using the horizontal length, the

difference in levels between the two termini, and the ineffective
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rise and fall (in excess of the floating gradient).
 2.6. Engineering surveys for Highway
Location

• Before a highway alignment is finalized in

highway project, the engineering survey are to
be carried out.

• The various stages of engineering surveys are:

Map study (Provisional alignment Identification)
 Reconnaissance survey
 Preliminary survey
Final location and detailed surveys

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 2.6. Engineering surveys for Highway
Location … Cont’d
2.6.1. Map Study (Desk Study)
• Involves an examination for a relatively large
area between terminal points for the purpose of
corridors through which a road must pass
• Usually survey is made by use of Topo-maps and
Aerial Photographs (stereoscopy)
Probable Alignments are identified by:
– Avoiding valleys, ponds, etc.; Avoiding river
bends where bridges should not be located;
Keeping in line with geometric standards (e.g.
avoiding steep topographies);

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 2.6. Engineering surveys for Highway
Location … Cont’d
2.6.2. Reconnaissance survey
• The purpose of the reconnaissance survey is to
evaluate the feasibility of one or more corridor
routes for a highway between specific points
• To confirm features indicated on map.
• To examine the general character of the area in
field for deciding the most feasible routes for
detailed studies.
• Details to be collected from alternative routes
during this survey are, Valleys, ponds, lakes,
marshy land, hill, permanent structure and other
obstruction.
• Maps and aerial photographs are used
(topographic maps: location of rivers, hills, valleys;
soil maps)
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 2.6.2. Reconnaissance survey …cont’d
1. Design standards (Meet the fixed minimum standard? e.g. max
permissible gradient )
2. Grading and Earthwork (Route following contour is cheaper,
Rugged Terrain > High Grading Cost, Hard Rock might need
blasting=Expensive!!)
3. Foundation Conditions (Avoid Marshy areas, Complete study not
done during Reconnaissance)
4. Geological Conditions (Avoid land slides, ID probable quarry
sites)
5. Drainage (Try to identify likely surface & sub-surface drainage
problems, type and number of drainage structures)
6. Right of Way (acquisition of land for the location of a
transportation system may cost much; possibility of shifting the
alignment a little?)
7. Effect on Population (segregation?, development?, pollution?)
8. Traffic Characteristics (how best will a route fit with traffic
requirements)
9. Maintenance Costs (consider maintenance cost and user costs
from inconveniency)
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2.6.3. Preliminary Location survey
• Consists of running an accurate traverse line along
the routes already recommended as a result of
reconnaissance survey in order to obtain sufficient
data for final location
• Objectives
– Survey and collect necessary data (topography, drainage, and
soil) alternate alignments
– Compare alternate alignments
– To estimate quantity of earthwork, material, … of different
alternatives
– Finalize the best alignment from all considerations
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2.6.3. Preliminary Location survey …Cont’d

Methodology
1. Modern: Aerial Survey
(Photogrammetric) – info on
topography, soil, geology, etc.
2. Conventional: Field Survey – soil
sampling, topography, etc.

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2.6.3. Preliminary Location survey …Cont’d
1. Primary Traverse: accuracy impt. (open traverse >>
adjustment of errors is difficult)

2. Topographic Features: Record all topographical features

3. Levelling: to determine the Centre Line Profile & Typical

Cross-sections (just sufficient to approximate earthwork)

4. Hydrological Data: to estimate type, number, & size of

cross-drainage structures and the grade line

5. Soil Survey: suitability of proposed alignment, to workout

details of earthwork, slops, suitability of materials, sub-soil
and surface drainage requirements, pavement type and
approximate thickness requirements
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2.6.3. Preliminary Location survey …Cont’d

After finishing the preliminary survey,

select the most suitable alignment by
conducting a comparative study considering
economy, geometry, etc.

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 2.6.4. Final location survey
• For the purpose of fixing the centerline of
the road, while at the same time collecting
physical data for the preparation of plans
for construction purposes.
• Temporary bench marks are fixed at
intervals
• Detail soil survey is to be carried out.
• The data during detailed survey should be
complete for preparing detailed plans,
design and estimates of project.
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 2.6.4. Final location survey …Cont’d

Tasks during Final Location Survey

1. Pegging the centre line: usually done at
stations established at 20/30m intervals
with reference to preliminary traverse/
base line (if used earlier) or a control survey
(if aerial survey was used).
2. Centre-line Levelling: at the stations and,
where there is a significant change, at
intermediate points between stations

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 2.6.4. Final location survey …Cont’d
Tasks (cont.)
3. Cross-section Levelling: at each station
(!) and at points with significant change in
ground slope
4. Intersecting Roads: the side of the
centre line on which they are located,
profiles, and cross-sections for some
distance on both sides
5. Ditches and Streams: horizontal
alignment, profile, and cross section levelling
of the banks of the stream/river
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2.7. Highway Drawings and Report Profile

• Data collected: used in alignment and

pavement, and drainage structures design
• After design is finished a document including:
– Site plan of proposed alignment
– Detailed Plan & Profile
– Cross-sections for Earth work
– Typical Roadway sections at selected locations (e.g.
junctions)
– A mass-haul diagram
– Construction details of structures like bridges,
culverts, ….

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 2.7. Steps in New Highway Projects

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2.7. Steps in New Highway Projects …Cont’d

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2.7. Steps in New Highway Projects …Cont’d

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 QUESTION?

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