Far Western University

Faculty of Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)
Course of Study

Course Title: Highway Design in Hilly Terrain Credit: 3

Course Code.: CE 4533 Number of lecture/week: 3
Year/Semester: Fourth/VII-VIII Tutorial/week: 1
Level: Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) Total hours: 45

1. Course Introduction:

This course is aimed at providing detailed knowledge of highway design on hilly terrain.

2. Course Objectives:
At the end of this course the student should be able to:
 Identify the major components of hill road design.
 Be able to design the basic elements of highway in hilly terrain.

3. Specific Objectives and Contents:

Specific Objectives Contents

 Understand the hill roads
 Differentiate the design and
construction problems associated
with hill road and plain roads
 Know the factors playing major role
in hill road design
 Know the factors affecting hill road
alignment
 Know the process of hill road
alignment survey
 Understand basic geometric design
elements of hill roads
 Design the basic components of
geometrics of hill roads
 Know the safety issues to be dealt in
geometric design
UNIT 1. Introduction to Highway Design in Hilly Region
(4 hours)
1.1 Definition of hill roads
1.2 Importance of hill roads in Nepal
1.3 Problems associated with the design and
construction of hill roads in Nepal
1.4 Major elements to be considered in the design of
hill roads
1.5 Safety issues in hill roads
UNIT 2. Highway Alignment in hills (4hours)
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Effect of Temperature, Rainfall, Elevation,
Asmospheric pressure, Geological condition on hill road
alignment
2.3 Route location process and Alignment survey
UNIT 3. Geometric Design of Hill Roads
(16hours)
3.1 Introduction to Geometric Design
3.2 Factors controlling geometric design
3.3 Design of cross sectional elements (road width, lateral
clearance, vertical clearance, camber), typical cross
sections of hill roads
3.4 Design of horizontal alignment elements (curve
radius, superelevation, setback, hairpin bends)
3.5 Sight distance
3.6 Design of vertical alignment elements (gradients,
vertical curves

 Understand the importance of
drainage in hill roads
 Design the side drains
 Know the drainage components in hill
roads
 Know the special elements of hill roads UNIT 5. Special Structure in hill road
 Understand the safety measures to be
provided in hill roads
 Understand the types of road side
facilities for safety enhancement
 Know the factors affecting road side
environment
 Suggest remedial measures for
environmental degradation
3.7 Safety consideration in geometric design
UNIT 4. Introduction to Drainage Design (6hours)
4.1 Introduction and importance
4.2 Hydrological study (Runoff estimation)
4.3 Design of side drains
4.4 Other surface drainage structures
4.5 Cross drainage structures
4.6 Sub surface drainage structures
4.7 Energy dissipating structures
(5hours)
5.1 Slope protection works
5.2 River training structgures
5.3 Retaining walls (types, design considerations)
5.4 Safety measures
UNIT 6. Road Side Facilities/Safety in Hill Roads (10 hours)
6.1Introduction
6.2 Importance and types of road side facilities
6.3Safety scenario of hill roads in Nepal
6.4 Measures to improve safety in hill roads in Nepal
6.5 Impact of hill roads on environment
6.6 Mitigation measures of adverse impact on
environment
Evaluation System

Undergraduate Programs
External Evaluation Marks Internal Evaluation Weight age Marks

End semester examination Assignments 25%

(Details are given in the
separate table at the end) Quizzes

Presentation
60
10
Group work

Mid-Term Exam 75% 30

Total External 60 Total Internal 100% 20

External evaluation
End semester examination
It is a written examination at the end of the semester. The questions will be asked covering all the units
of the course. The question model, full marks, time and others will be as per the following grid.

Full Marks: 100, Pass Marks: 45, Time: 3 Hrs

Nature of Total questions Total questions to Total Weightag External

question to be asked be answered marks e exam marks
Group A:
20 20 20×1 = 20 20% 12
multiple choice*
Group B:
Short answer 8 6 6×8 = 48 40% 24
type questions
Group C:
Long answer 3 2 2×16 =32 40% 24
type question
100 100% 60

Each student must secure at least 45% marks in internal evaluation in order to appear in the end semester
examination. Failed student will not be eligible to appear in the end semester examinations.

Internal evaluation
Assignment: Each student must submit the assignment individually. The stipulated time for submission
of the assignment will be seriously taken.

Quizzes: Unannounced and announced quizzes/tests will be taken by the respective subject teachers.
Such quizzes/tests will be conducted twice per semester. The students will be evaluated accordingly.
Attendance in class: Students should regularly attend and participate in class discussion. Eighty percent
class attendance is mandatory for the students to enable them to appear in the end semester examination.
Below 80% attendance in the class will signify NOT QUALIFIED (NQ) to attend the end semester
examination.

Presentation: Students will be divided into groups and each group will be provided with a topic for
presentation. It will be evaluated individually as well as group-wise. Individual students have to make
presentations on the given topics.

Mid-term & Pre-board examination: These are written examination and the questions will be asked
covering all the topics in the session of the course.

Discussion and participation: Students will be evaluated on the basis of their active participation in the
classroom discussions.

Instructional Techniques: All topics are discussed with emphasis on real-world application. List of
instructional techniques is as follows:
 Lecture and Discussion
 Group work and Individual work
 Assignments
 Presentation by Students
 Term Paper writing
 Case study
 Quizzes
 Guest Lecture
Students are advised to attend all the classes and complete all the assignments within the specified time
period. If a student does not attend the class(es), it is his/her sole responsibility to cover the topic(s)
taught during that period.
                                                                                          

References:
 Hill Road Manual, IRC SP 48: 1988, Indian Road Congress, New Delhi, India.
 Dinesh Kumar Shrestha, Anil Marsani, Transportation Engineering volume 1, Heritage Publishers
and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., Bhotahiti, Kathmandu.
 Manual on Road Safety (for BE Civil Engineering), Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University.