DESIGNING THE HIGHWAY

Calvin Paul P. Dapitanon

Road Shoulder

Cut and Fill Slope

The Cross Slope

Highway Median

The Grade Line

Right-of-Way

Road Alignment
Road Shoulder
 Road Shoulder

• Shoulder is a reserved area by the verge of a

road or motorway. Generally it is kept clear of
motor vehicle traffic.
• Shoulder widths typically vary from as little as
0.6 m (2 feet) on minor rural roads, where
there is no surfacing, to about 3.6 m (12 feet)
on major highways, where the entire shoulder
may be stabilized or paved.
The importance of road shoulders
• Road shoulder serves as a place for vehicles to
stop when disabled, or for some other
purposes. Road shoulder considerably reduces
road accidents.
• The road capacity is decreased and accident
opportunity increases if the shoulder is too
narrow or omitted in the design.
• Shoulder should be continuous along the full
length of the roadway. It also add structural
strength to the road pavement.
• Shoulder increases the horizontal sight
distance on curves. It reduces accident
potential when vehicle stop during
emergencies.
 The Cross Slope
• It is the slope provided on the road surface in
transverse direction to drain out the rain water.

• Slopes usually fall in both directions from the

centre line of the two lane highway except
where super elevation of curves direct all water
towards the inside.For a high type pavement,
the crown or slope is often 1% to 2%
 Importance of Cross Slope

• To prevent the entry of surface water.

• To remove the rain water from road surface

 Types of Cross Slope

Parabolic Straight Line

Composite
Cut and Fill Slope
 Cut and Fill Slope
• Are rarely created greater than a slope of two to one
(horizontal to vertical dimensions). Cut sections of
roadway or rail are characterized by the roadway being
lower in elevation than the surrounding terrain. From
an operational standpoint there are unique
environmental effects associated with cut sections of
roadway. For example, air pollutants can concentrate in
the ‘'valleys'‘ created by the cut section. Conversely,
noise pollution is mitigated by cut sections since an
effective blockage of line of sight sound propagation is
created by the depressed roadway design.
 Highway Median
• A median is a portion of a divided highway
separating the traveled way for traffic in the
opposing direction.
 Advantages og Midian
• It is effective means of reducing headlight
glares and accident between opposing
streams of traffic.
• Median provides available space for left turn
lanes
Grade line