Chapt

Road Engineering
er
[CEng 5201]
2
HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT &
ROUTE SELECTION

Muluneh W.
QUIZ - School of Civil Engineering
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
1
DILLA UNIVERSITY 1
 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT & ROUTE SELECTION

Introduction
2

 Road Design, Construction and Maintenance require

an approach depending on the terrain.
 The shortest road alignment is not necessarily the
easiest, quickest or most economical option for
construction and maintenance.
 Frequently, topography, slope stability, flood hazard
and erosion potential are likely to be the most
significant controls in the choice of the most suitable
alignment and design of cross-section.
 Variations in geology and slope greatly influence road
design and hence the cost of construction and these
variations can occur over very short lengths of
alignment.
 Cont…
3

 Geology, geomorphology and hydrology,

therefore, are key factors in the design,
construction and maintenance of roads in
Ethiopia.
 Road geometry, earth works, retaining
structures and drainage measures must be
designed in such a manner as to cause the least
impact on the stability of the surrounding slopes
and natural drainage systems.
 This chapter describes the methodology for
analyzing possible corridors and selecting the
optimum route from technical, economic, social
and environmental considerations.
 Highway Alignment and Route Location Survey
4

 Once the necessity of the highway is assessed, the

next process is deciding the alignment and route
location.
What is Alignment?
Alignment is the position
or the layout of the
centerline of the highway
on the ground.
 Alignment Cont…
5
 Two general categories:
1. Horizontal Alignment - includes straight
paths and curved paths.
2. Vertical Alignment - includes curves and
gradients.
 Alignment decision is important because a bad
alignment will enhance the construction,
Disadvantages of Improper Alignment:
 maintenance and
Increase in construction cost vehicle operating costs.
 Increase in maintenance cost
 Increase in vehicle operation cost
 Increase in accident rate.

A new road should be aligned very carefully in order to make

safe and comfortable drive; optimize construction, maintenance
and operation costs and reduce accident rate.
***Terrain has a considerable influence in the final choice of
 Requirements of Alignment
6

 Ideal alignment between two terminal stations

shall be:
Short Easy
Short (or shortest) Easy to construct
straight alignment and maintain the
between two road.
terminal stations. Easy for the
operation of
vehicles.

Economical Safe
Safe for construction and
Lowest total cost maintenance…stability of
including initial cost, slopes
maintenance cost, and Safe for the traffic
vehicle operating cost. operation with safe
geometric features.
 Factors Controlling Alignment
7

 The various factors that control the highway

alignment in general may be listed as:

1. Obligatory Points
2. Traffic
3. Geometric Design
4. Economics, and
5. Other Considerations.
 Cont…
8

 The various factors that control the highway

alignment in general
a) Obligatory may beare
Points: listed as:
controlling
points governing the alignment of a
highway.
Those controlling points may be
points through which the alignment
should pass such as:
 Chosen bridge site
 Intermediate town between two terminals
 A mountainous pass (tunnel)
 Quarry
 Cont…
9
Points through which the alignment
should not pass such as:
 Very costly structures
 Religious or historic places (temples,
churches, mosques)
 Forest areas to be conserved (structures
required heavy compensation cost),
 Hospitals, schools etc
 unsuitable land (marshy, peaty and water
logged areas, lakes ponds, etc),
 Cont…
10

d) Economy
b) Traffic – Traffic Volume and
Size  Initial Cost of
 Composition and Construction
quantity of traffic  Cost of maintenance
 Speed of traffics  Cost of Vehicle
 Origin-Destination Operation
desire line e) Other Considerations
 Drainage
c) Geometric Design Considerations
 Gradient  Hydrological Factors
 Radius of Curve  Political and Social
 Sight Distance Factors
 Monotony
Cost of construction can be decreased if high
embankments and deep cuttings are avoided, alignment
Traffic Safety and
 Type of Surveys and Investigations
11

 A variety of survey and investigations

have to be carried out by Road Engineers
and multidiscipline personnel.
A. Transport Planning Surveys
 Traffic Surveys
 Highway Inventories
 Pavement Deterioration Study
 Accident Study
 Type of Surveys and Investigations
12

B. Alignment and Route Location Surveys

 Desk study
 Reconnaissance Survey
 Preliminary Survey
 Final Location Survey
C. Drainage Studies
 Surface Run-off: Hydrologic and Hydraulic
 Subsurface Drainage: Ground Water & Seepage
 Cross–Drainage: Location and waterway area
required for the cross-drainage structures
 Type of Surveys and Investigations
13

D. Soil Survey
 Desk study
 Site Reconnaissance
 Determining the complete soil profile
through appropriate soil exploration
techniques; obtaining both disturbed
and undisturbed samples and testing of
samples
E. Pavement Design Investigation
 Soil property and Strength
 Material Survey
Engineering Surveys for Highway Location
14

 Toaid in the decision making

process, a classical conceptual
approach has tended to be
developed with regard to gathering
information about the areas being
evaluated.
Generally, these can be divided into:
1. Reconnaissance Survey
2. Preliminary Location Survey
3. Final Location Survey
 1) Reconnaissance Survey
15

Purpose of Reconnaissance Survey

 Is to evaluate the feasibility of one or more
corridor routes for a highway between specific
points that may be many kilometers away.

Two step process: all maps 

The first step Desk Study

 data relating to the
area
 air photographs

 visiting the
The second stepField Study site
  Collecting
Good reconnaissance survey can be the greatest single money-saving phase in
the construction of a new road.
data
 Reconnaissance Survey
i) Desk Study
16

Purpose of Desk Study

 Is to study all the available information in the
office, specially concerning the physical,
economic and environmental characteristics of
the study area.(published/unpublished)
 Some of the data that may be required:
 Published Literatures: Road construction and
maintenance case histories and geological, economic
and environmental reviews.
 Topographic Map
 Geological Maps
 Agricultural or Land Development Map
 Soil Map and Other Natural Resource Maps.
 Aerial Photography if possible satellite imagery (eg.
 Reconnaissance Survey
Available Maps
17

REFERENCE SOURCE
Index Map of Coverage Scales Ethiopian Mapping
Authority
Atlas of Ethiopia Ethiopian Mapping
Authority
Topographic Maps scale 1:250,000 Ethiopian Mapping
Authority
Topographic Maps scale 1:50,000 Ethiopian Mapping
Authority
Aerial photographs, approximate scale Ethiopian Mapping
1:50,000 Authority
Geological Map of Ethiopia, scale Geological Survey of
1:2,000,000 Ethiopia,
Ministry of Mines
Hydrological
All possibleMap of Ethiopia,
routes scale
shall be Ministry
located and of Agriculture
examined on
 Reconnaissance Survey
ii) Field Study
18

Purpose of Field Study

 Is to determine the most corridor feasible route
based on some basic criteria which involves
inspection of each band (identified during the desk
study).
 A survey team inspects a fairly broad stretch of land
along the proposed routes identified on the map
during the first phase and collects all relevant
details not available on the map.
 A team consisting of the following personal or
Engineers should make a site inspection visit (ERA):
 Chief Surveyor  Highway Engineer
 Bridge/Structural Engineer  Soil & Material (Pavement)
 Environmentalist / Engineer
Sociologist ,and  Hydrologist
 Reconnaissance Survey
19

The following information or data should be

determined or collected during the
Reconnaissance Survey:
 Terrain classification  Construction Material sources,

 Bridging requirements presence and distribution.

(number, length)  Water source
 Existing means of  Location of existing or proposed
communication utilities along the alignment
 Right-of way available,  Soil type and depth
bringing out constraints on  Land use and value of land
account of built-up areas,
(Agricultural, built-up, forest)
monuments and other
structures  Necessity of by passes for town and
 Slope stability and the villages
location of pre-existing land  Likely foundation conditions for
slides major structures.
 Geology of the area  Slope drainage and ground water
 Reconnaissance Survey
Cont…
20

 Drainage Stability and location of shifting channels and

bank erosion.
 Flood levels and river training/ protection requirement
 Ecology or environmental factors (land use impact)
 The possibility of using any existing alignment.
 Verify the accuracy of all collected data during the desk
study.
 2. Preliminary Location Survey
21

 This is a large-scale study of one or more feasible

corridor routes.
 It results in a paper location and alignment that
defines the line for the subsequent final location
survey.
 This paper location and alignment should show
enough ties to existing topography to permit a
location party to peg the centerline.
 In many cases field details for final design may
also be obtained economically during the
preliminary survey phase.
 It consists of running an accurate traverse line
along the routes already recommended as a
 Preliminary Location Survey
Cont…
22

The following are some of the information or data should be

determined or collected during the Preliminary Location
Survey:
 Establishing primary Traverse following the line
recommended in the reconnaissance survey
 Record all topographical features
Leveling Work: to Hydrological Data: to estimate
determine the Centre Line, type, number, & size of cross-
Profile & Typical Cross- drainage structures, and the grade
sections (just sufficient to line is decided based on the
approximate earthwork) hydrological and drainage data.
Soil Survey: the suitability of proposed alignment is to be
finally decided based on the soil survey data.
 Preliminary Location Survey
Cont…
23

Data Collected Cont…

 The soil survey at this stage helps to workout details of
earthwork, slopes, suitability of materials, sub-soil and
surface drainage requirements, pavement type and
approximate thickness requirements
 Estimate quantity of earthwork, material, … of different
corridor routes
 Compare alternate corridor routes.
 Finalize the best corridor routes from all consideration
 1. Reconnaissance Survey
2. Preliminary Location Survey
3. Final Location Survey
24

 This survey serves the dual purpose to fix the

centerline of the selected alignment and collect
additional data for the design and preparation of
working drawings.
 If extensive data is collected earlier the survey
work here might be limited.
Steps in Final Location Survey
 Pegging the Center Line: usually done at
stations established at 30m intervals with reference
to preliminary traverse/base line (if used earlier) or
a control survey (if aerial survey was used).
 Centre Line Leveling: at the stations and at
intermediate points between stations where there
 Final Location Survey
Cont…
25

Steps in Final Location Survey

 Cross-section Levelling: at each station and at
points with significant change in ground slope
 Intersecting Roads: the directions of the center
line of all intersecting roads, profiles, and cross-
sections for some distance on both sides.
 Ditches and Streams: horizontal alignment,
profile, and cross
The data, after section levelling
the necessary of the banks of
investigation
the stream.
and final location survey, is sent to the
design office to be used for
• Geometric design, pavement design,
and design of drainage and other
structures,
• Preparation of drawings, reports, and
 Report Outline
26

The route corridor selection report should be

presented in the following report format
outline:
1. Introduction 4. Site Visit and Survey
1.1 General 4.1 General: Condition of Existing
1.2 Requirements of the TOR Road, if Any

2. Study of Maps, Aerial Photography 4.2 First Section

and Literature 4.3 Second Section
3. Proposed Corridors 4.4 Third Section
3.1 Preliminary Identification of 5. Towns Passed Through by Project
Potential Corridors Road
3.2 Proposed Alignment Alternatives: A, 6. Orographic and Morphological
B, and C Characteristics
3.3 Estimation of Bridge Requirements: 6.1 General
A, B, and C 6.2 Morphology and Hydrology of
3.4 Estimated Road Link Lengths: A, B, the Area
and C
 Report Outline
27

Report Cont…
6.3 Geology (Tectonics if required) 7.3 Impact of Construction
6.4 Field Survey 8. Recommendations
6.4.1. Introduction 8.1 Alternative A
6.4.2. Rock Outcrops and Soils 8.2 Alternative B
6.4.3. Slope Stability and Erosion 8.3 Alternative C
6.4.4. Construction Materials 8.4 Summary
7. Socio-Environmental Impact of the
Project on the Area
7.1 General
7.2 Alternative Alignments
28

Quick Summary on
Alignment and Route
Location
 Steps in Route Location
29

1. Know the termini points of the scheme.

2. From the study of a map of the area,
identify and locate:
 National parks
 Any ancient relics, castles and the likes
 Existence of monasteries
 Mining sites
 Existing transport facilities
 Other public facilities (electricity, water)
 Location of construction materials
 Steps in Route Location
Cont…
30

3. Conduct preliminary and reconnaissance

surveys and collect information on
pertinent details of topography, climate,
soil, vegetation, and any other factors.
4. Based on the information collected in the
previous two steps select a corridor.
5. Identify a number of possible centerlines
within the corridor.
6. Make a preliminary design for the
possible alternative alignments and plot
on a base map.
 Steps in Route Location
Cont…
31

7. Examine each of the alternative

alignment with respect to grades,
volume of earthwork, drainage, crossing
structures, etc to select the best
alternative route.
8. Make final design and location of the
selected best alternative route
Guidelines for Alignment and Route Location
32
 There are certain guidelines that must be borne
in mind in selecting the alignment and locating
the route
 The route.
of They are: should be so selected that it
the highway
can handle the traffic most efficiently and serve the
inhabited localities.
 The alignment should be economical and it can be
considered so only when the initial cost, maintenance
cost, and operating cost are minimum.
 The alignment should be easy to construct and maintain.
It should be easy for the operation of vehicles. So to the
maximum extend easy gradients and curves should be
provided.
 The alignment between two terminal stations should be
short and as far as possible be straight, but due to some
practical considerations deviations may be needed.
 Guidelines for Alignment and Route Location

Cont…
33

 The gradients should not be steeper and

curvature not sharper than the limiting values
specified for different types of terrain or
standards. Excess of either or both may result in
economy of initial cost, but will involve extremely
high operation costs, time costs and accident
costs.
 The location should minimize the use of
agricultural land. If a road already exists, it may
be advisable to make use of the land already
available to the maximum extent.
 The location should involve the least impact on
the environment.
 Guidelines for Alignment and Route Location

Cont…
34

 Proximity to schools, playgrounds, very

costly structures, lakes/ponds and
hospitals should be avoided.
 Interference with utility services like
electric overhead transmission lines,
water supply mains, sewers, pipelines, etc
should be avoided as far as possible.
 Frequent crossing of railway lines should
be avoided.
 Locate the highway close to sources of
embankment materials and pavement
 Guidelines for Alignment and Route Location

Cont…
35

 Avoid areas liable to flooding.

 Steep terrain should be avoided as
much as possible.
 Deep cutting and costly tunnels should
be avoided as far as possible.
 Avoid areas subjected to subsidence
due to mining operations.
 When the alignment has to cross major
rivers, the crossing point should be
fixed carefully.
 Guidelines for Alignment and Route Location

Cont…
36

 Topography, slope stability, flood hazard

and Erosion are likely to be the most
significant in the choice of alignment and
design of cross section.
 Geology, Geomorphology and hydrology
are key factors in the design, construction
and maintenance of road in Ethiopia.
 Road geometry, earth works, retaining
structures and drainage measures must
be designed in such a manner as to cause
the least impact on the stability of the
37
 QUIZ -1 (5%)
38

1. Specify and discuss problems related

with highway engineering. Use at least
three valid points.
2. Discuss the criteria controlling highway
route location. At least 3 valid points.
3. In the highway route selection process,
list the points which your route can cross
or not allowed to cross. And justify your
answers.
4. What do we mean by a “bad alignment”?
Use examples to support your answer.
 QUIZ -1 (5%)
39

5. Complete the table below

S/ Type of Survey Outputs/At least 3
N Survey Each
1 Reconnaissan 1.
ce Survey 2.
3.
2 Preliminary 1.
Survey 2.
3.
3 Final Location 1.
Survey 2.
3.