Chapter 2

• Define highway engineering and understand the advantages of

roads.
• Explain the history of roads and highways in the Philippines.
• Understand the importance of highway development and
planning.
• Identify the different classification of roads.
• Classify the different road network patterns.
• Enumerate the steps involved in the procedure for locating
highways.
• Identify the techniques used in highway surveys.
• an engineering discipline branching from civil
engineering which involves the design, construction and
maintenance of highway systems to ensure safe and
effective transportation of people and goods.

• handles the planning, design, construction, and

operation of highways, roads, and other vehicular
facilities as well as their related bicycle and
pedestrian realms.
1. They facilitate conveyance of people, goods, raw-materials,
manufactured articles, etc. speedily and easily in the different
parts of a country.
2. 5They act as the only source of communication in regions of
high altitude i.e in mountainous regions.
3. They help in growth of trade and other economy activities in
and outside the villages and towns by establishing contact
between towns and villages.
4. They help in providing efficient distribution of agricultural
products and natural resources all over the country.
4. They help in price stabilization of commodities due to mobility
of products all over the country.
5. They help in social and cultural advancement of people and
making the villagers active and alert members of the
community.
6. They help in promoting the cultural and social ties among
people living in different part of a country and thus
strengthen the national unity.
7. They help in providing improved medical facilities quickly to
human beings, especially to those who live in rural areas.
9. They provide more employment opportunities.
10. They enhance land value and thus bring better revenue.
11. They serve as feeders for Airways, Waterways and Railways.
12. They help in reducing distress among the people, caused due
to famine, by supplying them food and clothing quickly.

Lastly, it can be said that roads are the symbol of

country's progress and thus development made by
any country can be judged by the quality and
network of its road system.
ANCIENT ROADS
• First mode of transport was by foot and human pathways
• Invention of wheels in the Mesopotamian civilization
• 1,900 B.C. – earliest road from Assyrian empire
• 3,500 B.C. – roads with HARD SURFACE in Mesopotamia
• Stone surface road found in the Island of Crete

MAJOR PURPOSE
• Movement of armies
• Transport of food and trade of goods
ROMAN ROADS
• Pioneers of road construction
• First to discover and introduce CEMENT
• Fundamentals of good road construction – good drainage,
good material, and good workmanship.
FRENCH ROADS
• Jerome Tresaguet (1716-1796) – a French engineer who
introduced new and cheaper methods of construction and
maintenance of stone roads. He is the Father of Modern Road
Building.
• Thomas Telford (1757-1834) – a Scottish engineer and founder
of Institute of Civil Engineer. Introduced some improvements in
the methods of Jerome Tresaguet.
BRITISH ROADS
• John Louden Mac Adam (1755-1836) – a British engineer road
builder who introduced the Macadam road concept, which can
be considered as the first SCIENTIFIC ROAD CONSTRUCTION
METHOD.
MODERN ROADS
• Follow Macadam’s construction method. Use of bituminous
(asphalt) concrete and cement concrete are the most important
developments.
• 1900 – transportation of this country was by trail,
water, railroad, earth road and partially graveled
roads.
• American government – initiated the development of
the roadway system in the Philippines. Made use of
the Macadam roads to connect towns and provinces in
the country.
• 1950-1980: was considered as the automobile age
where road construction and improvement becomes the
priority of the government with a slogan saying “This
nation is on wheels”.
1. To plan overall road network for efficient and safe
traffic operation, but at minimum cost. Here the costs
of construction, maintenance and resurfacing or
strengthening of pavement layers and the vehicle
operation cost are to be given due consideration.
2. To arrive at the road system and the lengths of
different categories of roads which could provide
maximum utility and could be constructed within the
available resources during the plan period under
consideration.
3. To divide the overall plan into phases and to decide
priorities.
4. To fix up date-wise priorities for development of
each road link based on utility as the main criterion
for phasing the road development programme.
5. To plan for future requirements and improvements of
roads in view of anticipated developments.
6. To work out suitable financing system.
• The proposed road links should be a part of the
planned road network for the state/nation.
• The importance of the road shall be based on the
traffic demand, and hence its type should fall under
the standard classification.
• The maintenance needs of the roads should receive
prompt attention by setting aside funds for this
purpose.
• Statutory provisions for traffic regulation should be in
place.
• Roads and highways are VITAL to the development of the
country.
• Factors of a good road and highway: SAFE, USEFUL and
ATTRACTIVE
1. Financial
2. Political
3. Technical
1. Economic
2. Financial
3. Political and Administration

PRIORITY PROJECTS? ECONOMICALLY

VIABLE
• Financial resources
• Approve by the legislative (not conflicting with the law)
and administrative.
• Implement according to priorities. Bases are
ECONOMIC analysis, critical situations, present and
future expected level of traffic and claims based on
political subdivision.
• Providing a continuity of route system and
coordination with other transportation mode.
• Selection of projects, availability of labor and
materials and the climatic conditions.
• Scheduling the project implementation in coordination
with other agencies, acquiring right of way and
making final plan and specifications.
• Budgetary reserve to cover emergencies such as
floods and other natural disasters.
A. Quantifiable Market Value
1. Cost of highway which refers to the following:
• Planning cost
• Right of way appropriation
• Construction cost
• Maintenance cost
• Operating cost

2. Cost benefits to highway users

• Vehicle operating cost (including congestion cost).
• Travel time savings (commercial).
• Motorist safety (economic cost accident).
B. Non-Quantifiable Non-Market Value
1. Cost benefits to highway users such as:
• Motorist safety
• Comfort and conversion
• Aesthetic from driving viewpoint

C. Quantifiable Non-Market Value

1. Cost benefits to highway users:
• Traveling time savings (non-commercial)
1. To provide technical and organizational
support;
2. To receive input or information on the needs
and goals of affected persons, groups or
agencies;
3. To incorporate the above to the planning and
decision making.
• He should not be either partisan or advocate to
a particular solution.
• Clarifier
• Expediters
• Conciliators
• Impartial negotiators
• Good ethics
1. To prepare the preliminary design – involves the
scoop of the study and the initial work program,
know the basic needs, plans and objectives of
affected persons.
2. Exploration of alternatives – since they are involved
in decision-making process, fundamental principle is
to have set of alternatives or different choices of
solutions.
3. Detailed analysis.
4. Secure formal ratification by the local officials.
• 2Public hearing – a meeting or forum wherein
the public are given the opportunity to be
heard or to present their side of the matter.
 Advantages of Loans Disadvantages of Loans
1. The NEED IS IMMEDIATE for instant 1. May impair credit rating of government
roads and highways. which can obstruct other more important
2. The “pay as you go” fund is SCATTERED improvements.
throughout the entire road system where 2. If future income is committed to pay
the situation is most critical and not just past improvements, funds are not available
concentrated on the principal highways. to MAINTAIN the existing system.
3. Encourage investors and progress is fast. 3. With large amount available, there is
the tendency to OVER BUILD and be
EXTRAVAGANT.
4. Interest alone is a BIG WASTE of public
funds.
• From economic standpoint: “A minimum of expenses for roads
and highway projects is desirable but the road which is truly the
cheapest is NOT the one which has cost the LEAST MONEY, but
the one which makes the most PROFITABLE RETURNS in
proportion to the amount expended upon it.” (W. Gillespe, Union
College Civil Engineering professor)
• To augment or increase the country’s level of economy.
• To provide easy access to working places.
• To facilitate public services such as police, fire protection.
• To facilitate medical care, schooling and delivery of related basic
services.
• To give landowner benefits to transportation and increase on
property assessment.
• Benefit to motor vehicle users through lower cost of operation and
maintenance.
• Benefit in time saving.
• Less road accidents.
• To give maximum comfort and ease of travel.
• Freeways
• Arterial Roads
• Collector Roads
• Local
1. FREEWAYS - 1are access-controlled divided highways. Most
freeways are four lanes, two lanes each direction, but many
freeways widen to incorporate more lanes as they enter urban
areas.
• Road is designed for high speeds.

• Possess no at-grade intersections. Intersections are

separated by grade or connected by interchanges.

• An at-grade intersection is where a local road

intersects a highway at the same elevation, or
grade. This requires vehicles to stop on one
roadway when the other roadway has the right of
way.
2. EXPRESSWAYS - 1they are superior type of highways and are
designed for high speeds (120 km/hr is common), high traffic
volume and safety. They are generally provided with grade
separations at intersections.

North Luzon Expressway

• Divided highway designed for high volumes of
traffic.
• Partial control access.
3. ARTERIALS - It is a general term denoting a street primarily
meant for through traffic usually on a continuous route. Main
purpose is to deliver traffic to freeways.
• Road designed for moderate or high volumes.
• Lower speeds than highways and expressways.
• Intersections with collector and local streets.
• Commercial areas are often located on arterial
roads.
4. COLLECTOR STREETS - these are streets intended for
collecting and distributing traffic to and from local streets and
also for providing access to arterial streets. Normally full
access is provided on these streets. There are few parking
restrictions except during peak hours.
•Low or moderate capacity road
•Leads traffic to activity areas within a
community
•Intersects with arterial roads and
5. LOCAL STREET – a local street is the one which is primarily
intended for access to residence, business or abutting
property. It does not normally carry large volume of traffic
and also it allows unrestricted parking and pedestrian
movements.
• Side road
• Low capacity
• Low speed
• Typically located in residential neighborhoods
• 1RepublicAct No. 917 (1953) - the first comprehensive reference to a
Road Classification System which is known as Philippine Highway Act.
• 2Executive Order (EO) No. 113, Series of 1955 - laid down the
criteria for classification of national roads and for conversion from
local roads to national roads.
• 4EO No. 124, Series of 1987 - Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH), through the Secretary, was given the power to
classify roads and highways and also to provide and authorize the
conversion of roads and highways from one category to another.
• 5In June 2009, a memorandum was approved by then Secretary
Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. relative to the Department’s
criteria/guidelines on road functional classification. National roads
were classified in relation to its functionality to the local road network
into National Primary Arterial Road (which is further categorized into:
North-South Backbone, East-West Lateral, Other Roads of Strategic
Importance) and National Secondary Roads.
National Primary Roads
• A contiguous length of significant road sections extending linearly
without any breaks or forks that connect major cities (at least around
100,000 population) comprising the main trunk line or the backbone
of the national road system.

National Secondary Roads

• Directly connect cities to National Primary Roads, except in
metropolitan areas
• Directly connect major ports and ferry terminals (as defined by DOTr)
to National Primary Roads
• Directly connect major airports (as defined by DOTr) to National
Primary Roads
• Directly connect tourist service centers (as defined by DOT) to
National Primary Roads or other National Secondary Roads
National Secondary Roads
• Directly connect cities (not included in the category of major cities)
• Directly connect provincial capitals within the same region
• Directly connect major National Government Infrastructure to
National Primary Roads or other National Secondary Roads

Applicable only for Primary and Secondary Roads

• Bypass/Diversion Roads – Roads that divert through traffic away
from the city/municipality business centers (with affirmative feasibility
study)
• Roads that would connect or fill the gap between adjoining national
roads (protruding) to form a continuous national road network.
National Tertiary Roads
• Other existing roads under DPWH which perform a local
function

Provincial Roads
• Connect cities and municipalities without traversing National
Roads
• Connect to National Roads to barangays through rural areas
• Connect to major provincial government infrastructure
Municipal and City Roads
• Roads within Poblacion
• Roads that connect to Provincial and National Roads
• Roads that provide inter-barangay connections to major
Municipal and City Infrastructure without traversing Provincial
Roads

Barangay Roads
• Other Public Roads (officially turned over) within the barangay
and not covered in the above definitions
1. Office study of existing information – the first phase in
any highway location study. The type and amount of data
collected and examined depend on the type of highway
being considered
• Engineering – topography, geology, climate, and
traffic volumes
• Social and demographic – including land use and
zoning patterns
• Environmental – including types of wildlife,
location of recreational, historic and archeological
sites, possible effects of air, noise, and water
pollution
• Economic – including units costs for construction
and the trend of agricultural.
2. Reconnaisance survey – the object of this phase of
the study is to identify several feasible routes, each
within a band of limited width of a few hundred feet.
• Terrain and soil conditions
• Serviceability of route to industrial and
population areas
• Crossing of other transportation facilities, such
as rivers, railroads, and highways
• Directness of route
3. Preliminary location survey – during this phase of the study,
the positions of the feasible routes are set as closely as
possible by establishing all the control points and determining
preliminary vertical and horizontal alignments for each.
• Economic evaluation – factors usually taken into consideration
include road user costs, construction costs, maintenance costs,
road user benefits, and any dis-benefits
• Environmental evaluation – the construction of a highway at a
given location may result in significant changes in one or more
variables, which in turn may offset the equilibrium and result in
significant adverse effects on the environment.
4. Final location survey – it is a detailed layout of the selected
route. The horizontal and vertical alignments are determined,
and the positions of structures and drainage channels are
located. The method used is to set out the points of
intersections (PI) of the straight portions of the highway and fit
a suitable horizontal curve between these.