Highway Design

FRANKLYN T. AMISTAD, MSCE

University of Northern Philippines
 Flexibility in Highway Design
Overview of the Highway Planning and Development Process

A successful
process
includes
designer and
community
involvement
from the
beginning. (Rt.
123/124 in
New Ipswich
Village, NH)
Highway design is only one element in the overall highway development
process. Historically, detailed design occurs in the middle of the process, linking
the preceding phases of planning and project development with the
subsequent phases of right of way acquisition, construction, and maintenance.
While these are distinct activities, there is considerable overlap in terms of
coordination among the various disciplines that work together, including
designers, throughout the process.

It is during the first three stages, planning, project development, and

design, that designers and communities, working together, can have the
greatest impact on the final design features of the project. In fact, the
flexibility available for highway design during the detailed design phase is
limited a great deal by the decisions made at the earlier stages of planning
and project development. This Guide begins with a description of the
overall highway planning and development process to illustrate when
these decisions are made and how they affect the ultimate design of a
facility.
 THE STAGES OF HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT

Although the names may vary by State, the five basic stages in the highway
development process are: planning, project development (preliminary
design), final design, right of way, and construction. After construction is
completed, ongoing operation and maintenance activities continue
throughout the life of the facility.
.

Although these activities are

distinct, there is considerable
overlap between all phases of
highway planning and
development.
 Planning

The initial definition of the need for any highway or bridge improvement
project takes place during the planning stage. This problem definition
occurs at the State, regional, or local level, depending on the scale of
the proposed improvement. This is the key time to get the public
involved and provide input into the decision making process. The
problems identified usually fall into one or more of the following four
categories:

❖ The existing physical structure needs major repair/replacement

(structure repair).
❖ Existing or projected future travel demands exceed available
capacity, and access to transportation and mobility need to be
increased (capacity).
❖ The route is experiencing an inordinate number of safety and
accident problems that can only be resolved through physical,
geometric changes (safety).
❖ Developmental pressures along the route make a reexamination of
the number, location, and physical design of access points necessary
(access).
 Whichever problem (or set of problems) is identified, it is important that all parties
agree that the problem exists, pinpoint what the problem is, and decide whether or
not they want it fixed. For example, some communities may acknowledge that a
roadway is operating over its capacity but do not want to improve the roadway for
fear that such action will encourage more growth along the corridor. Road access
may be a problem, but a community may decide it is better not to increase access,

Obtaining a community consensus on the problem requires proactive public

involvement beyond conventional public meetings at which well developed design
alternatives are presented for public comment. If a consensus cannot be reached
on the definition of the problem at the beginning, it will be difficult to move
ahead in the process and expect consensus on the final design.
Increased public involvement in
highway planning and
development is
essential to success.
 Planning Occurs at Three Government Levels

State Planning

At the State level, State DOTS are required to develop and maintain a
statewide, multimodal transportation planning process. Broad categories of
highway improvement needs are defined, based primarily on ongoing
examinations of roadway pavement conditions and estimates of present
day and 20year projections of traffic demands.

In addition, each State is required to conduct biennial inspections of its

major bridges (and similar, less frequent, inspections of minor structures) to
determine their structural adequacy and capacity. In a number of States,
regional transportation plans for multiple counties are prepared within the
context of the statewide planning process. Every few years, the State selects
improvement projects based on the long range plan and includes them in
the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP.
Regional Planning

State efforts are supplemented in urbanized areas with a population of more

than 200,000 through the metropolitan transportation planning process.
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) develop their own regional
plans, unlike non MPO areas, which must rely on the State planning process.
The metropolitan planning process requires the development of a long
range plan, typically prepared with a 20 to 25year planning horizon.

The plan not only defines a region's multimodal transportation needs, but
also identifies the local funding sources that will be needed to implement
the identified projects. Each urbanized area or MPO then uses this
information to prepare a shorter, more detailed listing and prioritization of
projects for which work is anticipated within the next 3 to 5 years. The listing
of these projects is referred to as the short range Transportation
Improvement Program, or TIP The TIP is incorporated into the STIP
Local Planning

Most cities and counties follow a similar process of project identification,

conceptual costing, and prioritization of the roadways for which they are
responsible. Generally, these are roads that are not the responsibility of
the State DOT. However, the State must work with localities to get their
input into the long range plan and STIP

Factors To Consider During Planning

It is important to look ahead during the planning stage and consider the potential
impact that a proposed facility or improvement may have while the project is still
in the conceptual phase. During planning, key decisions are made that will affect
and limit the design options in subsequent phases.
 Physical Safety Capacity
Factors to Character
consider in
planning.

Cost Other

Environmental Historic and Multimodal

Quality Scenic Characteristics Consideration
An urban boulevard that
evolved from
a freeway concept.
(Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Boulevard
Baltimore, MD)
 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

After a project has been planned and programmed for implementation, it moves
into the project development phase. At this stage, the environmental analysis
intensifies. The level of environmental review varies widely, depending on the
scale and impact of the project.

It can range from a multiyear effort to prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement (a comprehensive document that analyzes the potential impact of
proposed alternatives) to a modest environmental review completed in a matter
of weeks.

Regardless of the level of detail or duration, the product of the project

development process generally includes a description of the location and major
design features of the recommended project that is to be further designed and
constructed, while continually trying to avoid, minimize, and mitigate
environmental impact.
The basic steps in this stage include the following:

▪ Refinement of purpose and need

▪ Development of a range of alternatives (including the "no build" and
traffic management system [TMS] options)
▪ Evaluation of alternatives and their impact on the natural and built
environments
▪ Development of appropriate mitigation

In general, decisions made at the project development level help to define the
major features of the resulting project through the remainder of the design and
construction process. For example, if the project development process determines
that an improvement needs to take the form of a four lane divided arterial
highway, it may be difficult in the design phase to justify providing only a two lane
highway. Similarly, if the project development phase determines that an existing
truss bridge cannot be rehabilitated at a reasonable cost to provide the necessary
capacity, then it may be difficult to justify keeping the existing bridge without
investing in the cost of a totally new structure.
Scoping
brings all
participa
nts into
the
process.
 Scoping

Just as in planning, there are many decisions made during the scoping phase of
project development, regardless of the level of detail being studied. Therefore, it
is important that the various stakeholders in the project be identified and
provided with the opportunity to get involved .

Agency staff can identify stakeholders by asking individuals or groups who are
known to be interested or affected to identify others and then repeat the process
with the newly identified stakeholders.

A good community impact assessment will also help identify stakeholders and
avoid overlooking inconspicuous groups. The general public should not be
omitted, although a different approach is usually needed with the general public
than with those who are more intensely interested. The Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) has recently published a guide entitled, Community Impact
Assessment
 Assessing the Character of an Area

In order for a designer to be sensitive to the project's surrounding

environment, he or she must consider its context and physical location
carefully during this stage of project planning.

This is true whether a house, a road, a bridge, or something as small as a

bus passenger waiting shelter is to be built.

A data collection effort may be needed that involves site visits and contacts
with residents and other stakeholders in the area.

A benefit of the designer gathering information about the physical

character of the area and the values of the community is that the
information will help the designer shape how the project will look and
identify any physical constraints or opportunities early in the process
 The physical character of an
area can vary, from a peaceful
countryside...
(Snickersville Turnpike,
Loudoun County, VA)

. . . to an urban corridor.

(Martin Luther King Blvd.,

Baltimore, MD)
 Preservation of Prehistoric
and Historic Archaeological
Sites

Recognition of Special View

Understanding what is sheds and Scenic Character
important about the
land. Preservation of Historic
Landscapes

Respect of Rivers, Streams,

and Natural Drainage Ways

Recognition of Edges, Fence

Lines, Tree Lines

Respect for Historic Road

Traces

Recognition of Distant Vistas,

Mountains, Rivers, Oceans,
Lakes, and Horizons

Preservation of Natural Land

Forms
•

Coordination with Utilities

Planning for Future Roads

Considerations of Adjacent Land Use

Preservation of Farm Lands

Preservation of Context of Communities

Highway Location To Provide Views

Avoidance of Wetlands
 FINAL DESIGN
After a preferred alternative has been selected and the project
description agreed upon as stated in the environmental document, a
project can move into the final design stage. The product of this stage is
a complete set of plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&Es) of
required quantities of materials ready for the solicitation of construction
bids and subsequent construction. Depending on the scale and
complexity of the project, the final design process may take from a few
months to several years.

The need to employ imagination, ingenuity, and flexibility comes into play
at this stage, within the general parameters established during planning and
project development. Designers need to be aware of design related
commitments made during project planning and project development, as
well as proposed mitigation. They also need to be cognizant of the ability to
make minor changes to the original concept developed during the planning
phase that can result in a "better" final product.
The interests and involvement of affected stakeholders are critical to
making design decisions during this phase, as well. Many of the same
techniques employed during earlier phases of the project
development process to facilitate public participation can also be used
during the design phase.

The following paragraphs discuss some important considerations of

design, including:

 Developing a concept
 Considering scale and
 Detailing the design.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

GOD BLESS!!!