Elective- Hill Road

Unit-4 (Formation Works)

BALAJU SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

 Introduction
 Formation is the finished profile of the road, ready for
construction of protective/drainage works, carriageway /
pavement, shoulders, drains, parapets etc.
4.1 Trace Cut
 Trace cut is the primary operation for formation work. Trace
cut provides an inspection path for inspection of the
alignment by the inspecting officers. It facilitates detailed
survey (like leveling, plane table/compass surveys) of the
alignment for preparation of detailed estimate of the works.
It also serves as approach track for the formation cut
construction. Trace cut also helps in determination of the
classification of soil close to the actual one likely to be
encountered in the formation cut.

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 4.2. Jungle clearance
 The alignment of hill road generally passes through
dense vegetation except for barren snow clad areas
and cultivated habitations. Clearance of vegetation
/ jungle along the proposed alignment is the first
activity in actual construction of the road.
 clearance of jungle results in reduction of green
cover and is harmful to environment and ecology,
and upsets eco-balance, when done on a large
scale, it is essential that alignment is so chosen to
minimize jungle clearance.
 Jungle clearance is done in two stages as under:
 Clearance of undergrowth, shrubs, bushes creepers ballies
upto 30 cm girth.
 Cutting down trees exceeding 30 cm girth.
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 4.3. Earthwork in excavation
 The earthwork for formation of the hill road
involves mostly side cut excavation to achieve
designed formation width.
 The excavation for formation cut follows the jungle
clearance with appropriate distance lag. The
excavation is done manually or mechanically using
angle dozers based on various relevant factors.
 The work can be done either in one operation or in
two stages ie. Construction of a 2.5 m wide track in
first stage and widening it to designed width in
second stage.

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 4.3. Earthwork in excavation
 The choice of manual/mechanized cutting and
single/ two stage construction has to be made on
detailed examination in individual cases depending
on various individual factors, viz. terrain,
availability of man power and machinery,
workability, time constraints and cost aspect.
 Normally, 25-30% manual and 70-75% work be
done mechanically and single stage construction is
considered to be most suitable for construction on
hill roads under normal circumstances.
 A dozer can operate only on about 2.5 m width at a
time, the construction operation has to be initial cut
by forward dozers followed by widening to final
width by rear dozers.
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 4.3. Earthwork in excavation
 To achieve maximum output the dozer should be
deployed to work down hill assisted by gravity to enable
greater loads to be pushed.
 When the starting point of
the road sector is at lower
altitude, the dozer may be
moved to higher location
by cross country move or
by making approach track
along the trace cut to
minimum essential width
for move of dozer and
then start working down
hill from that point
backword.
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4.4.Rock cutting: drilling, blasting, clearing
Rock Cutting :
 Rock cutting involves drilling with specialist equipment,
blasting with explosives and the clearance of blasted
debris with dozers. These being very expensive and
risky operations .
 A thoughtful planning and careful execution by
personnel having thorough knowledge and extensive
practical experience in rock cutting work and use of
drilling and blasting equipment and explosives.
 Improper use of explosives may result in large scale
disturbance of hill side creating slide areas leading to
erosion and expensive control measures with loss of cost
and risk of casualties.

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4.4.Rock cutting, drilling, blasting, clearing
 Rock cutting is an essential operation of formation work
and hence the equipments required for rock cutting
should be bought only after careful assessment of job
requirements and technical data provided by
manufacturer of various products.
Drilling:
 The first step of formation work after planning is drilling
operation. The following main points should keep in
mind while performing drilling operation.
 In forward/isolated locations where compressors cannot be
taken, light portable mechanically operated drills are used.
 The most commonly used drilling equipment is
pneumatically operated jack hammer capable of drilling
about 40 mm dia. holes up to 3 meters in depth, generally
the maximum depth of holes for blasting in continuous
rock is restricted to 1m.
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4.4.Rock cutting, drilling, blasting, clearing
 In very exceptional cases where deeper
whole are essential to be drilled, in order
to avoid the drill rods getting stuck, the
first 1 m of the hole is drilled with 42 mm
bit dia. rods and nest 1 m with 38 mm
dia. rods.
 For cutting fresh/initial formation, hill slope is cut
into benches of 1 to 1.5 m vertical face. These
benches are brought down to trace cut level in
stages by drilling vertical holes of depth equal to
or slightly more than the face height.
 For widening the initial cut or widening an existing
road, one row of holes about 1.25 to 1.5 m deep
are drilled about 1m apart and 1 m above road
level on the vertical face at a slope of about 45 to
the face of dipping downwards. The hole is taken
about 10 to 15 cm below the formation level so
that toes and lumps are not left after.
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4.4.Rock cutting, drilling, blasting, clearing
Blasting:
 After drilling the holes, charging for blasting is taken up.
 The charge per hole depends on the type of explosive
used and blasting ratio expected.
 Special gelatin 60 to 80% is the most commonly used
explosive and blasting or firing is done normally with
detonating fuse initiated by ordinary detonator and
safety fuse or electric detonators.

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4.4.Rock cutting, drilling, blasting, clearing
 The following are main points to be observed in
charging/blasting :
 The charging of holes is commenced after the drilled hole
has cooled down.
 Lower 1/3 to ½ of the hole is filled with explosives(gelatin)
by light tamping with wooden rod. The upper empty space
in the hole is filled with suitable material (clay) by proper
tamping with wooden rod. The other end of sagety
fuse/electric detonator /detonating fuse is kept outside the
hole for firing.
 Blasting may be done in fixed timing, either just before
lunch break or evening break, so that there is no work
immediately after blasting and loose stones if any are
allowed to fall on their own.
 Warning/precautions should be taken by whistle, red flags
or any other effective signals.
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4.4.Rock cutting, drilling, blasting, clearing
 In case of misfire, the primed cartridge should be removed
by removing the stemming very carefully. Otherwise a
fresh hole is drilled about 30 to 40 cm away from the
misfired hole and the new hole is blasted. This will also
blast the misfired hole.
 While working in extreme cold weather, the explosives get
frozen and is dangerous. No forcing, pricking or rolling of
explosives should be done to soften them. The explosives
as well as safety fuse should in such circumstances be kept
in a warm place (about 20 to 25) before use.
 In wet weather conditions, firing is done with detonating
fuse by a single detonator placed at dry location.
 Careful day to day account of explosives drawn from
stores, consumed at site and returned to store should be
maintained.

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4.4.Rock cutting, drilling, blasting, clearing
Clearing:
 After blasting, sufficient time should be allowed to
elapse to allow for any loose stone to fall.
 The site is inspected for any dangerous overhang or
loose stone. These are removed carefully to avoid
accidents.
 The clearance of blasted debris is then taken up either
manually or with dozers under proper supervision.
 During the cleaning of debris, maximum possible stone
should be retrieved and stocked/shifted to suitable
locations for use in protective, drainage, pavement
works etc. to fall.

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 4.5. Earthwork in embankment
 In hill roads, heavy embankment work is very limited.
The ratio of cut and fill method can vary with the slope
and terrain of hill.
 The area where the embankment/fill is to come is
cleared of all organic matter. Selected material for new
embankment is spread and consolidated in layers with
roller.
 In case of cut and fill with
dozer, the consolidation is
normally achieved under dozer
operation.
 The slope of embankment/fill
should be protected from
erosion by planting turf/ grass/
locally available plants.
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4.6. Tools required for manual method of
road construction

 Hand shovel
Used to dig as well as to move
loose.

 Chisel
Chisel is a tool that has a long
metal blade with a sharp edge
at the end. It is used for
cutting and shaping wood and
stone. ...a hammer and chisel.

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4.6. Tools required for manual method of
road construction
 Peak
Used for breaking up hard
ground or rock.

 Spade
spade is a tool primarily for
digging consisting of a long
handle and blade, typically
with the blade narrower and
flatter than the
common shovel

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4.6. Tools required for manual method of
road construction
 Hand Rammer
Used for compacting material

 Brushes
Used for the removal of
leaves, sand, dirt and other
materials from large areas
such as streets, parking lots
and runways.

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4.6. Tools required for manual method of
road construction
 Trowel
Used for digging small holes
or removing weeds.

 Wheel Barrows

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4.6. Tools required for manual method of
road construction
 Plum bob
The plumb bob is useful in
establishing vertical for a wall
in construction

 Hacksaws
A hacksaw blade is a common
cutting tool used in all
engineering industries. It is so
popular and essential that the
hacksaw blade is required
primary to cut all metals and
non-metals

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4.6. Tools required for manual method of
road construction
 Fork
A useful and
effective tool for
digging, planting;

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4.7. Plants and equipment required for
mechanized method of road construction

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