Addis Ababa University

Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building construction & City

Development (EiABC)

Program: Construction Technology & Management

Chair: Infrastructure Design & Construction
Course Title: Road & Bridge Construction I
Course No. COTM: 3102 Division: Regular
Instructor: Ato Wondwossen T. & Ato Yihenew B. Time allowed: 3hr

Instruction: Attempt All Questions

Give only Precise Answers and Show all necessary calculations

I. Give short & Precise Answer (2.5 pt each)

1. In any Road Geometric design, the first task is to select an Economical, Technically
Feasible and Environmentally friendly route.
a. Define & discuss clearly the term “Technically Feasible route”.
b. State at least five guidelines used for selecting a Technically Feasible route.

Answer
a) “Technically feasible route” is the one with minimum construction and
maintenance problem and such that the design controls and policy on Geometric
design standards are adhered to. (1.05 pts)

b) Guideline for selection of Technically feasible route

a. Run the alignment on as high ground [ridge line] as possible. [for
drainage, reducing cut, e.t.c]
b. Run alignments on soils that provide better sub-grade support,
consecutively reduce pavement thickness.
c. Run alignment that satisfies the required design standard
d. Consider the proximity of the road to road construction materials
e. Avoid marshy area and water logged areas, weak sub-grade and
expansive soil areas as much as possible
f. Run alignment as short as possible
g. Avoid river crossings as much as possible and if it is a must chose the
narrower bank and perpendicularly
h. Avoid alignment with sharp curve, areas of poor visibility, steeper slope,
e.t.c so that the safety requirements will be insured
i. Make special considerations at intersections with other roads
(1.5 pts)

2. Geometric design of Road involves the fixation and determination of different cross
sectional & Geometric elements of a Road to meet the need of Road Users. However,
in doing so, there are many Design Control Criteria that affect the selection of
appropriate design standard for a given road.
a. State and discuss briefly at least five Design control factors that affect
selection of design standard.
b. Despite some differences, all design standards including ERA & AACRA;
classify roads in to different functional classes. State at least five purposes or
importance of functional classification of roads.
 Answer
a) The main factors that affect the selection of the geometric standard &
elements are:

Functional classification

Terrain/ Topography

Design speed

Design vehicle

Traffic volume

Human factors

Environmental and adjacent land uses

Economy and other factors
(1 pts)
b) Functional/ hierarchical road classification is important to :
a. Encourage efficient traffic speed and operating conditions across the
various elements of the network
b. Improve traffic safety by separating traffic flow from different
operating characteristics.
c. Results in better understanding of the road system and its function
d. Ensures better traffic management by separating local and through
traffics
e. Helps to use the road budgets efficiently
f. Ensure each type of traffic is using the most appropriate route , e.t.c

(1.5pts)

II. Say True or False (1 pt each)

1. In Route selection, Valley floor alignments are always better than ridge top alignment. F
2. According to ERA geometric design manual, shoulders are provided in town sections to
give additional width for the carriage way for better mobility of vehicles. F
3. If possible, making the longitudinal gradient of a road to be zero is always
advantageous. F
4. According to ERA Geometric design standard DS1 road has a higher standard than
DS10. T
5. Any horizontal line parallel to the horizontal axis of a mass haul diagram is known as
Balance line. F
III. Show your calculations clearly
1. Along a highway with a design speed of 90Km/hr, a -2.5% grade intersect with a
+3% grade at point of vertical intersection (PVI) 200+30 and elevation 300.4m. A
500mm diameter cross -drainage pipe whose bottom elevation is 301.1m is located
at station 200+95. If the minimum cover required above the top of the pipe is 0.7m
and having the following parameters
• f=0.15; G=0%
• perception reaction time =2.5 sec
Determine,
a) The stopping sight distance
b) The length of vertical curve which satisfy both the requirements of minimum
cover for the drainage pipe and the stooping sight distance calculated above
(15 pts)
Answer:

Given: Required
Vd= 90Km/hr a) SSD=?
g1= - 2.5% g2 = 3% b) L=? which satisfy the SSD
f=0.15 G=0% t=2.5sec requirement and the
Station PVI = 200+30 minimum cover requirement
Elevation of PVC= 300.4m
Station of Pipe = 200+95
Bottom Elevation of Pipe= 301.1m
Pipe Diameter = 0.5m
Minimum pipe cover required = 0.7m

Solution
a) SSD = d1 + d2
= 0.278 Vd* t + V2/254(f+G)
= 0.278*90*2.5 + 902/254(0.15+0)
=62.6m + 212.6m
=275.2m

b) A= g2-g1 = 3%-(-2.5%) = +5.5%

Since A is positive value the curve is SAG Vertical Curve.

The length of the vertical curve which meets the SSD requirement of
275.2m is calculated as

Case I: Assume SSD > L

For sag vertical curve with SSD>L condition, the relationship between
SSD & L is given by

 120 + 3.5(SSD ) 
L = 2(SSD ) −  
 A 

 120 + 3.5(275.2 ) 

L = 2(275.2 ) −   = 353.45m
 5 .5 
However, since SSD < L calculated our assumption was wrong
Case II: Let us assume SSD < L

For sag vertical curve with SSD<L condition, the relationship between SSD
& L is given by

A(SSD )
2
L=
120 + 3.5(SSD )

5.5(275.2 )
2

L= = 384.5m
120 + 3.5(275.2 )
Since SSD < L calculated, our assumption is right and the minimum length
of sag vertical curve to meet the SSD requirement of 275.2m long is 385m.

In order to ensure that the minimum cover requirement is fulfilled, let us

determine the available cover over the pipe for the vertical curve length of
385m

y’
B
PVI
g1z
’
L/2 z

In order to find the minimum cover C=0.7m, the value of y’ will be

y’ = g1 Z + (Elevation of pipe bottom – Elevation of PVI) + Pipe’s diameter + minimum Cover

= 0.025* ((200+95)-(200+30)) + (301.1m-300.4m) + 0.5m + 0.7m

= 0.025*65m + 0.7m + 0.5m + 0.7m
= 3.525m

The actual value of y’ for vertical curve length of 385m long is calculated as

y’ = AX2/2L
where X= L/2 + Z = 385/2 + 65 = 257.5m and A= 5.5%

= 0.055* (257.5)2/ 2*385

= 4.736m
 Since the calculated value of y’ for vertical curve length of 385m is greater than the
minimum length of y’ for cover requirement, the actual cover provide will be higher
than 0.7m.

Therefore, providing L=385m will satisfy both the requirements of SSD and
minimum cover.

Grading value
a) for determining SSD ………..5 pts
b) for determining L which satisfy the SSD requirement ……………..5pts
c) for determining L which satisfy the vertical clearance requirement or for
checking the adequacy of the cover using the determined L……….5 pts

2. A two Lane 7m wide two lane Road on a National Highway has the following
Geometrical features;
• Design Speed = 90kph
• Crown Slope = 2.5%
• e = 0.10m/m
• rate of super elevation 1/250
• f = 0.15
Determine the Length of the Transition curve, the run-off length and draw the super-
elevation diagrams based on centerline rotation
(10 pts)

3. For the selected road gradient along the proposed roadway, the volume of earthwork
involved at every station is tabulated as shown below. Cost of Excavation =
40Birr/m3, Cost of Overhaul = 30Birr/st-m3, Cost of Borrow Excavation = 60Birr/m3,
Free Haul Distance, F=400m. 1 station = 100m

Station Cut (m3) Fill(m3)

0 + 000 0 0
0 + 100 200 0
0 + 200 120 0
0 + 300 80 0
0 + 400 150 0
0 + 500 0 80
0 + 600 0 150
0 + 700 0 120
0 + 800 0 220
0 + 900 0 160
1 + 000 0 200
1 + 100 0 180
1 + 200 160 0
1 + 300 220 0
1 + 400 160 0
1 + 500 250 0
1 + 600 100 0
1 + 700 0 80
1 + 800 0 120

I. Draw mass haul diagram and profile of the road

II. Determine: a) Total volume of cut and fill
c) Volume of free haul and overhaul
d) Volume of waste and borrow materials
III. Estimate the cost of earthwork
(15 pts)

-------------------------Good Luck----------------------