1 Highway Engineering-I

Chapter Two:
HIGHWAY ROUTE SURVEYS AND LOCATION
 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT
2

 Objective: establishment of the new highway’s centerline

and cross-sections in relation to the terminal points and to
the topography through which the highway will pass.
 Centerline determines the amount of cut and fill, cross-
section details, drainage design, construction costs and
environmental impacts.
 Improper alignment would increase;
 Construction cost
 Land acquisition cost

 Maintenance cost

 Vehicle operation cost

 Accident rate
Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.
 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT…(Cond..)
3

 Different types of highway have different needs.

 Requirements of ideal alignment:
 Short
 Easy
 Construction, maintenance, vehicle operation
 Safe
 low accident, stable foundation)
 Economical
 Initial cost, maintenance cost, operation cost
 FACTORS CONTROLLING
4 ALIGNMENT
 Factors controlling alignment
 Obligatory points
 Traffic
 Geometric design
 Economics
 Other considerations
 FACTORS CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT..
(Cond..)
5

 Obligatory points
 Points through which the alignment is to pass
 Bridges sites
 Intermediate town b/n terminals
 Mountainous pass
 Points through which the alignment should not pass
 Very costly structures
 Highly developed expensive land areas
 Cultural or religious places
 Hospitals, schools etc
 FACTORS CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT..(Cond..)

 Traffic
 The alignment should suit traffic demand
 The alignment should kept in view of the desire lines, flow patterns and
future trend
 Geometric design:
 Grades, radius of curves, sight distance etc
 First determine standard of the road and then
 Fix the geometric standards
 Economy:
 Includes the initial cost, maintenance cost and operation cost
 If high embankment and deep cuts are avoided there would be a decrease
in initial cost
 In minor roads: Grades-steep, Curves-sharp
Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.
 FACTORS CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT..(Cond..)
7

 Other considerations:
 Drainage consideration
 Guide the vertical alignment
 Hydrological factors
 Subsurface water level, seepage flow, high flood level
 Political considerations

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
8

 The purpose of the route survey is to fix the road

alignment i.e. to position the central line of the road
on the ground.
 The work of the highway location survey may
include
 Desk study
 Reconnaissance surveys
 Preliminary surveys
 Final location & detailed surveys
 ROUTE SURVEY
1. Desk study
9

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
1. Desk study
10

 If the topographic map of the area is available it is

possible to suggest the likely routes of the road
 The following details help to locate the routes:
 Alignment avoiding valleys, ponds or lakes
 Possibility of crossing through mountain pass
 Approximate location of bridges sites for crossing river
 Consider alternate routes by keeping the permissible
gradient
 ROUTE SURVEY
2. Reconnaissance surveys
11

 To examine the general character of the area

 Helps to decide the most feasible routes for
detailed studies
 A field survey party may inspect a fairly broad
stretch of land along the proposed alternatives
routes of the map in the field
 All relevant details not available in the map are
collected & noted down
 ROUTE SURVEY
2. Reconnaissance surveys(Cond’t)
12

 The following are some of the details to be

collected:
 Valleys, ponds, lakes, marshy land
 Approximate values of gradient, length of gradients
 Number & type of cross-drainage structures, max.
flood level
 Soil survey
 Sources of construction materials, water & location of
stones
 ROUTE SURVEY
2. Reconnaissance surveys (Cont..)
13

 Useful checklists:
 Design standards
 Grading & earthwork
 Foundation condition
 Geological conditions
 Drainage
 Right of way
 Effect on community
 Traffic characteristics & maintenance cost

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
3. Preliminary survey
14

 Objective:
 To survey the various alignments proposed & collect all
necessary details of topographic drainage & soil
 To compare the different proposals in view of the
requirements of a good alignment
 To estimate the quantity of earthwork, material and to
workout the cost of alternative proposals.
 To finalize the best alignment from all consideration
 Methods:
 Conventional method
 Aerial photographic method
 ROUTE SURVEY
3. Preliminary survey(cont..)
15

1. Conventional method
 Ground survey is carried out
 Collect topographical data
 Carries out soil survey
 Procedures for conventional method:
 Primary traverse
 Topographic features
 Leveling work- CL profiles & X-sections
 Drainage- type, number & size of Drainage structurs
 Soil survey- slope, pavement type & thickness
Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.
 ROUTE SURVEY
3. Preliminary survey(cont..)
16

2. Aerial photography method

 It is a modern approach by taking aerial photographs
(proposed corridor) & using photo interpretation
technique to obtain the necessary topographic, soil and
geological data.
 Then PS of various alternate alignments, a comparative
is made.
 Finally the most suitable alignment is selected.
 ROUTE SURVEY
4. Final location survey
17

 Purpose:
 To fix the centerline of the selected alignment on the ground and
 To collect additional data for the design and preparation of working drawings.
 Features of the final location survey:
 Pegging the center line
 centerline leveling
 X-section leveling
 Intersecting road
 The direction w.r.t the CL of all intersecting roads should be measured.
 Profiles and x- section
 Ditches and streams
 Profile and X-section leveling helps for location and construction of culverts
and bridges.
Example:
Alternative#1
18

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

Alternative #2
19

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

Alternative #3
20

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 Route Selection
21
22
Thank You!

QUESTIONS?