General Concepts of Highway Design
guidance to drivers can operate at a high level of
The goal in Highway Design is to provide safe
roads for all road users, and not just those in
motor vehicles. The principle that ‘man is the
reference standard’ implies that roads must be
adapted to the limitations of human capacity. This
leads to what is called the ‘safe systems approach’
which encourages:
 Simpler, self-explaining roads (with less
reliance on traffic signs).
 Designing roads that encourage / enforce
safe speeds (the safe speed being the one
that guarantees the safety of the most
vulnerable road user).
 Forgiving roadsides (the ‘Clear Zone’ idea
about unobstructed, traversable space
beyond the edge of the travelled way for
recovery of errant vehicles).
 Functionality – developing a hierarchy of
mono-functional roads (e.g. truck,
distributor, and access).
 Homogeneity – avoiding differences in
speed, direction of travel, and mass of
vehicles (with segregation of incompatible
road users).
 Predictability – ensuring that roads are easy
to understand and there are not nasty
surprises (as for ‘self-explaining’ roads).
Human Factors and Driver Performance
The suitability of a design rests as much on how
effectively drivers are able to use the highway as
on any other criteria. Considerations include;
 Driver tasks that include vehicle control
(such as simultaneous multiple tasks and
reaction time), guidance (such as road
following, lane placement, car following,
passing maneuvers and response to traffic
control devices) and navigation.
 Use of the facility by older drivers and older
pedestrians.
 Errors due to driver deficiencies and
situational demands.
 Speed.
Properly designed highways that provide positive
efficiency and with relatively few crashes.
Vehicles
The four general classes of design vehicles are (1)
passenger cars, (2) buses, (3) trucks, and (4)
recreational vehicles. In the design of any
highway facility, the designer should consider the
largest design vehicle that is likely to use that
facility with considerable frequency or a design
vehicle with special characteristics appropriate to a
particular location in determining the design of
such critical features as radii at intersections and
radii of turning roadways. As a general rule;
 A passenger car may be selected when the
main traffic generator is a parking lot.
 A two-axle single unit truck may be used for
intersection design of residential streets and
park roads.
 A three-axle single-unit truck may be used
for the design of collector streets and other
facilities where larger single-unit trucks are
likely.
 A bus may be used in the design of highway
intersections that are designated bus routes
and that have relatively few large trucks
using them.
Traffic Characteristics
The design of a highway and its features should
explicitly cover traffic volumes and traffic
characteristics. Traffic volumes obtained from field
studies (such as hourly and daily traffic volumes,
type and weight of vehicles and traffic trends) can
indicate the need for improvement and directly
influence the selection of geometric design
features, such as number of lanes, widths,
alignments, and grades.
Relevant studies include average daily traffic
(ADT), peak hour traffic, directional
distribution, composition of traffic, projection
of future traffic demands, speed and traffic
flow relationships characterized by the volume
flow rate in vehicles per hour, the average speed
in kilometers per hour, and the traffic density in
vehicles per kilometer.
Highway Types / Classification
Functional classification groups highways by the
character of service they provide, and is primarily
based on motor vehicle travel characteristics and
the degree of access to adjacent properties
The six recognizable stages in motor vehicle travel
include main movement, transition, distribution,
collection, access, and termination. Each of
these stages is handled by a separate facility
designed specifically for its function. A prominent
cause of highway obsolescence is the failure of
design to recognize and accommodate each of the
different trip levels of the movement hierarchy.
Functional classification serves as a basis for
organizing geometric design criteria, with the
classification of a highway or street establishing
the basic design type to be used for the facility.
The first step in the design process is to define the
function that the facility is to serve. The level of
service needed to fulfill this function for the
anticipated volume and composition of traffic
provides a rational and cost-effective basis for the
selection of design speed and geometric criteria.
The use of functional classification as a design
type should appropriately integrate the highway
planning and design process.
The speed limit should be limited to 60 kph or less,
and they should feature prominent road marking to
separate opposing streams.
Divided Highways
A divided highway is one with separate roadways
for traffic in opposite directions. It has at least two
full lanes for each direction of travel and a median
of 1.20 m or more in width constructed in a
manner to preclude its use by vehicles except in
emergencies. Increased safety, comfort and ease
of operation are the principal advantages of
dividing multilane highways. A divided highway
generally is for high volume and high-speed
operations. Medians 1.20 m to 1.80 m wide are
acceptable under restricted rural conditions but,
wherever feasible, medians should be made 4.50
to 18.50 m wide and preferably wider to obtain full
advantage of traffic separation and to fit
intersection design at crossroads.

2-Lane Highways
2-lane highways constitute the majority of the total
length of highways, varying from gravel or other
loose surface roads to high type pavement. Lane
widths of 2-lane highways vary from 3.00 m to
3.65 m depending upon the traffic volume, design
speed, character of terrain and economic
considerations.

4-Lane Undivided Highways

A 4-lane undivided highway is the narrowest
highway on which each traffic lane is intended to
be used by traffic in one direction and passing is
accomplished on lanes not subject to use by
opposing traffic. The ability to pass without
travelling in the lane of opposing traffic results in a
smoother operation and a large increase in
highway capacity over that of 2-lane highways.
Classification of Highways According to
System
In the Philippines roads or highways are classified as
national, provincial, city, municipal or barangay roads.

National Roads
Public roads, declared as national roads by the
President of the Philippines upon recommendation
of the Secretary of Public Works and Highways City Roads
satisfying the conditions set forth under Executive
Roads / streets within the urban area of a city not
Order No.113, Establishing the Classification of
classified as provincial or national roads.
Roads. National roads are classified as primary
and secondary roads. The former forms the part of Road Right of way………...……..15.00 m minimum
the main highway trunk-line system which is
continuous in extent; the latter includes all access Width of travelled way ………..….6.10 m minimum
roads forming a secondary trunk-line system. Allowable grade …..……………..…6.0% maximum
Road Right of way………...……..20.00 m minimum
Width of travelled way 2 lane…….6.70 m minimum
Allowable grade …..……………..…6.0% maximum

Municipal Roads
Roads / streets within the poblacion area of a
municipality not classified as provincial or national
roads.
Provincial Roads
Road Right of way………...……..15.00 m minimum
These are roads connecting one municipality to
another, with the terminal to be the public plaza; Width of travelled way ………..….6.10 m minimum
plus roads extending from one municipality or from
Allowable grade …..……………..…6.0% maximum
a provincial or national road to a public wharf or
railway station. For purposes of allocating national
aid maintenance, a provincial road is designated
and accepted as such by the Secretary of the
Department of Public Works and Highways, upon
recommendation of the Provincial Board
(Sangguniang Panlalawigan).
Road Right of way………...……..15.00 m minimum
Width of travelled way ………..….6.10 m minimum
Allowable grade …..……………..…6.0% maximum
Tourism Road
Tourism road is a road which is marketed as
particularly suited for tourists. Tourist roads may
be formed when existing roads are promoted with
traffic signs and advertising material. Some tourist
roads such as Ternate-Nasugbu Road are built for
tourism purposes. Others may be roadways
enjoyed by local citizens in areas of unique or
exceptional natural beauty. It is often developed
because it promises to generate employment,
enhance community infrastructure, and assist in
revitalizing the flagging economies in rural areas.
Road Right of way………...,,……..2.10 m minimum
Width of travelled way ………..….6.10 m minimum
Allowable grade …..……………..…6.0% maximum
Road Classification According to
Primary Function
Road classifications based on the primary
functions are the following:
Expressways
These are divided arterial highways for through
traffic, with full or partial control of access and
generally with grade separations at major
intersections.

Parkways
Parkways are arterial highways for non-
commercial traffic with full or partial control of
access, usually located within a park or a ribbon of
park-like development.
Farm to Market Road
Farm to Market Roads refer to roads linking the
agriculture and fisheries production sites, coastal
landing points and post-harvest facilities to the
market and arterial roads and highways.
Road Right of way………...,,……..6.00 m minimum
Width of travelled way ………..….4.00 m minimum
Allowable grade …..……………....10.0% maximum