8/25/2018

DESIGNING THE
HIGHWAY
Cross-section elements

Cross Section Elements

Principal Elements Marginal Elements
◦ Traffic/Travelled Lanes ◦ Curbs and Gutters
◦ Shoulders ◦ Guard Rails/Barriers
◦ Medians ◦ Sidewalks
◦ Cross Slope

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Road Shoulder
◦ Portion of the roadway between the edge of the traffic lane and the edge of
the ditch, gutter, curb, or side slope

◦ Functions
◦ Lateral Support
◦ Avoidance Space
◦ Emergency Stop
◦ Pedestrian /Bike Use
◦ Turning/Passing at Intersections

Median
◦ physically separate opposing traffic
streams

◦ Functions
◦ Separate opposing traffic
◦ Drainage
◦ Aesthetics
◦ Space for future lanes
◦ Recovery
◦ Minimize headlight glare

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Cross Slope
◦ Slope perpendicular to flow of traffic on
tangent section

◦ Rural – normal crown – uniform slope from

center to edge of pavement (cross slope
break typically at centerline)

◦ Urban – parabolic shape (gutter capacity)

Curb
◦ Is a raised element that is used to denote
the edge of roadway

◦ Functions
◦ Drainage control
◦ Right-of-way reduction
◦ Roadway edge delineation

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Curb
◦ Types
◦ Barrier Curbs
-prevent or limit the possibility of
vehicles leaving the roadway

◦ Mountable Curbs
-offers the advantage that a vehicle
can cross it when necessary

Gutter
◦ a depression running parallel to a road designed to collect rainwater flowing
along the street and divert it into a storm drain

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Sidewalks
◦ Are an integral part of city roads, sometimes provided in rural areas
◦ In residential areas, sidewalk varies from 1.2m to 2.4m

Typical Two Lane Highway

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Typical Divided Highways

Typical Urban Highway

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Typical Urban Highway

DESIGNING THE
HIGHWAY
General Concepts

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Goal
◦ To provide safe roads for all road users (not just the motor vehicle
users)

Principle
◦ “man is the reference standard”

Safe system approach

1. Functionality – developing a hierarchy of mono-functional roads

2. Homogeneity – avoiding differences in speed, direction of

travel, and mass of vehicles

3. Predictability – ensuring that roads are easy to understand

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DESIGNING THE
HIGHWAY
Highway Types/Classification

Highway Types / Classification

Stages in Motor Vehicle Travel
◦ Main movement
◦ Transition
◦ Distribution / Collection
◦ Access
◦ Termination

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Highway Types / Classification

◦ Type of highway according to volume of traffic

◦ 2 – Lane Highway or Multi-lane Highway

◦ Undivided or Divided Highway

Highway Types / Classification

2 – Lane Highway
◦ Constitute the majority of total length of highway, varying
from gravel surface roads to high type pavement
◦ Lane widths vary from 3.00 m to 3.65 m
◦ Desirable lane width is 3.35 m with usable shoulders 3.0 m
wide
◦ Climbing Lane should not be less than 3.0 m wide
◦ A shoulder 1.2 m wide is considered adequate

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Highway Types / Classification

2 – Lane Highway
◦ Climbing Lane - is an “extra” lane that’s used for short
distances in certain areas to improve safety, ease
congestion and prevent delays.
- are used on uphill segments of highway that have a steep
grade (usually 5-6 percent grade).
- are marked with signage advising slower traffic to keep right.

Climbing Lane

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Highway Types / Classification

4 – Lane Undivided Highway
◦ Narrowest highway on which each traffic lane is intended to
be used by traffic in one direction
◦ Speed limit should be limited to 60kph or less, and should
feature prominent road markings
◦ Adequate shoulders for emergency purposes are essential
on undivided highways
◦ Most applicable in urban and suburban areas

Highway Types / Classification

Divided Highway
◦ Separated roadways for traffic in opposite direction
◦ At least two full lanes for each direction of travel and a
median of 1.20 m or more in width
◦ Is for high volume and high speed operations
◦ Medians of 1.20 m to 1.80 m wide are acceptable under
restricted rural conditions
◦ Desirable medians are around 4.5 m to 18.5 m wide to
obtain full advantage of traffic separation

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Highway Types / Classification

◦ Classification of highways according to system

◦ National Roads
◦ Provincial Roads
◦ City Roads
◦ Municipal Roads
◦ Barangay Roads

Highway Types / Classification

National Roads
◦ Classified as primary and secondary roads.
◦ Primary, meaning it forms the part of the main highway trunk-line system which is
continuous in extent; secondary includes all minor trunk-line system

◦ Road of Right of Way ………………………….. 20.00 m minimum

◦ Width of travelled way 2-lane …………………. 6.70 m minimum
◦ Allowable grade ………………………………… 6.0% maximum

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Highway Types / Classification

Provincial Roads
◦ Roads connecting one municipality to another, with terminal to be the public
plaza
◦ Roads extending from one municipality or from a provincial or national road to
public wharf or railway station

◦ Road of Right of Way ………………………….. 15.00 m minimum

◦ Width of travelled way …………………………. 6.10 m minimum
◦ Allowable grade ………………………………… 6.0% maximum

Highway Types / Classification

City Roads
◦ Roads/streets within the urban area of a city not classified under provincial or national
roads

◦ Road of Right of Way ………………………….. 15.00 m minimum

◦ Width of travelled way …………………………. 6.10 m minimum
◦ Allowable grade ………………………………… 6.0% maximum

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Highway Types / Classification

Municipal Roads
◦ Roads/streets within the poblacion area of a municipality not classified as provincial
or national roads

◦ Road of Right of Way ………………………….. 15.00 m minimum

◦ Width of travelled way …………………………. 6.10 m minimum
◦ Allowable grade ………………………………… 6.0% maximum

Highway Types / Classification

Tourism Roads
◦ Roads which marketed as particularly suited for tourist

◦ Road of Right of Way ………………………….. 2.10 m minimum

◦ Width of travelled way …………………………. 6.10 m minimum
◦ Allowable grade ………………………………… 6.0% maximum

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Highway Types / Classification

Farm to Market Roads
◦ Roads linking agriculture and fisheries production sites, coastal landing points and
post-harvest facilities to the market and arterial roads and highways

◦ Road of Right of Way ………………………….. 6.00 m minimum

◦ Width of travelled way …………………………. 4.00 m minimum
◦ Allowable grade ………………………………… 10.0% maximum

Highway Types / Classification

◦ Classification of highways according to primary function
◦ Expressways
◦ Parkways

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