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Components of The Highway Vol-1

This document defines key terms related to highway and bridge components. It provides concise definitions for over 30 terms including: bridge, carriageway, culvert, deck, embankment, pavement, shoulder, slope, and surfacing. The terms cover various elements of roads, bridges, drainage structures, and earthworks that make up highway infrastructure.

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Robert Felipe
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40 views

Components of The Highway Vol-1

This document defines key terms related to highway and bridge components. It provides concise definitions for over 30 terms including: bridge, carriageway, culvert, deck, embankment, pavement, shoulder, slope, and surfacing. The terms cover various elements of roads, bridges, drainage structures, and earthworks that make up highway infrastructure.

Uploaded by

Robert Felipe
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PART A- LIST OF TERMS

COMPONENTS OF THE HIGHWAY

Blinding

a) A layer of lean concrete, usually 5 to 10 cm thick,


placed on soil to seal it and provide a clean and level
working surface to build the foundations of a wall, or
any other structure.

b) An application of fine material e.g. sand, to fill voids


in the surface of a pavement or earthworks layer.

Bridge

A structure usually with a span of 5 metres or more,


providing a means of crossing above water, a railway or
another obstruction, whether natural or artificial. A
bridge consists of abutments, deck and sometimes
wingwalls and piers.

Camber

The road surface is normally shaped to fall away from


the centre line to either side. The camber is necessary
to shed rain water and reduce the risk of passing
vehicles colliding. The slope of the camber is called the
crossfall. On sharp bends the road surface should fall
directly from the outside of the bend to the inside.

I -7
PART A - LIST OF TERMS

Carriageway

The road pavement or bridge deck surface on which


vehicles travel.

Causeway or Vented Drift

Low level structure constructed across streams or rivers


with openings to permit water to pass below road level.
The causeway may become submerged in flood
conditions.

Coffer Dam

A temporary dam built above the ground to give access


to an area which is normally, or has a risk of being,
submerged or waterlogged. Cofferdams may be
constructed of soil, sandbags or sheetpiles.

Crown

The highest point of the cross section of the road


carriageway, usually the centre line.

Culvert

A structure allowing water to flow under the road and


having an open span of normally between 0.5 and about
5 metres. The opening may be round, rectangular or
arched. The invert, walls and soffit often form an integral
unit.

I-8
PART A- LIST OF TERMS

Cut (Cutting)

Excavation in natural ground usually with graded


slopes.

Deck

The part of a bridge that spans between abutments or


pier supports, and carries the road traffic.

Drift or Ford

A stream or river crossing at bed level over which the


stream or river water can flow.

Embankment

Constructed earthworks below the pavement raising the


road above the surrounding natural ground level.

Formation

The shaped surface of the earthworks, or subgrade,


before constructing the pavement layers.

Layby

An area adjacent to the road for the temporary parking


of vehicles.

I-9
PART A - LIST OF TERMS

Margins

The right of way or land area maintained or owned by


the road authority.

Parapet

The protective edge, barrer, wall or railing at the edge of


a bridge deck.

Pavement

The constructed layers of the road on which the


vehicles travel.

Roadbase and Subbase

Pavement courses between surfacing and subgrade.

Roadway

The portion of a highway, including shoulders, for


vehicular use.

Scuppers

Drainage pipes or outlets in a bridge deck.

I - 10
PART A- LIST OF TERMS

Shoulder

Paved or unpaved part of the highway next to the outer


edge of the pavement. The shoulder provides side
support for the pavement and allows vehicles to stop or
pass in an emergency.

Slope

A natural or artificially constructed soil surface at an


angle to the horizontal.

Stringer

Longitudinal beam in a bridge deck or structure.

Subgrade

Upper layer of the natural or imported soil (free of


unsuitable material) which supports the pavement.

Surfacing

Top layer of the pavement. Consists of wearing course,


and sometimes a base course or binder course.

Surface Treatment

Construction of a protective surface layer e.g. by spray


application of a bituminous or tar binder, blinded with
coated or uncoated aggregate.

I – 11
PART A - LIST OF TERMS

Traffic Lane

The portion of the carriageway defined by road


markings for the movement of a single line of vehicles.

Transverse Joint

Joint normal to, or at an angle to, the road centre line.

Transverse Joint Taper

Slope or ramp of premix material at the end of a freshly


laid premix course.

Wingwall

Retaining wall at a bridge abutment to retain and protect


the embankment fill behind the abutment.

I – 12

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