1 Fundamentals of Highway Engineering

Chapter Two:
HIGHWAY ROUTE SURVEYS AND LOCATION

Instructor: Fasika Mekonnen

Fasomeku@gmail.com
Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.
 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT
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 Objective: establishment of the new highway’s centerline

and cross-sections in relation to the terminal points and to
the topography through which the highway will pass.
 Centerline determines the amount of cut and fill, cross-
section details, drainage design, construction costs and
environmental impacts.
 Improper alignment would increase;
 Construction cost
 Land acquisition cost
 Maintenance cost
 Vehicle operation cost
 Accident rate
Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.
 HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT…(Cond..)
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 Different types of highway have different needs.

 Requirements of ideal alignment:
 Short

 Easy
 Construction, maintenance, vehicle operation
 Safe
 low accident, stable foundation)
 Economical
 Initial cost, maintenance cost, operation cost

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 FACTORS CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT
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 Factors controlling alignment

 Obligatory points
 Traffic

 Geometric design
 Economics

 Other considerations

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 FACTORS CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT..(Cond..)
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 Obligatory points
 Points through which the alignment is to pass
 Bridges sites
 Intermediate town b/n terminals
 Mountainous pass

 Points through which the alignment should not pass

 Very costly structures
 Highly developed expensive land areas
 Cultural or religious places
 Hospitals, schools etc

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 FACTORS CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT..(Cond..)
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 Traffic
 The alignment should suit traffic demand
 The alignment should kept in view of the desire lines, flow patterns
and future trend
 Geometric design:
 Grades, radius of curves, sight distance etc
 First determine standard of the road and then
 Fix the geometric standards
 Economy:
 Includes the initial cost, maintenance cost and operation cost
 If high embankment and deep cuts are avoided there would be a
decrease in initial cost
 In minor roads: Grades-steep, Curves-sharp
Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.
 FACTORS CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT..(Cond..)
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 Other considerations:
 Drainage consideration
 Guide the vertical alignment

 Hydrological factors

 Subsurface water level, seepage flow, high flood level

 Political considerations

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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 The purpose of the route survey is to fix the road

alignment i.e. to position the central line of the road
on the ground.
 The work of the highway location survey may
include
 Desk study
 Reconnaissance surveys

 Preliminary surveys

 Final location & detailed surveys

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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1. Desk study

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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1. Desk study
 If the topographic map of the area is available it is
possible to suggest the likely routes of the road
 The following details help to locate the routes:
 Alignment avoiding valleys, ponds or lakes
 Possibility of crossing through mountain pass

 Approximate location of bridges sites for crossing river

 Consider alternate routes by keeping the permissible

gradient

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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2. Reconnaissance surveys
 To examine the general character of the area
 Helps to decide the most feasible routes for
detailed studies
 A field survey party may inspect a fairly broad
stretch of land along the proposed alternatives
routes of the map in the field
 All relevant details not available in the map are
collected & noted down

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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2. Reconnaissance surveys(Cond’t)
 The following are some of the details to be
collected:
 Valleys, ponds, lakes, marshy land
 Approximate values of gradient, length of gradients

 Number & type of cross-drainage structures, max. flood

level
 Soil survey

 Sources of construction materials, water & location of

stones

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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2. Reconnaissance surveys (Cont..)
 Useful checklists:
 Design standards
 Grading & earthwork

 Foundation condition

 Geological conditions

 Drainage

 Right of way

 Effect on community

 Traffic characteristics & maintenance cost

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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3. Preliminary survey
 Objective:
 To survey the various alignments proposed & collect all
necessary details of topographic drainage & soil
 To compare the different proposals in view of the
requirements of a good alignment
 To estimate the quantity of earthwork, material and to
workout the cost of alternative proposals.
 To finalize the best alignment from all consideration

 Methods:
 Conventional method
 Aerial photographic method

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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3. Preliminary survey(cont..)
1. Conventional method
 Ground survey is carried out
 Collect topographical data
 Carries out soil survey

 Procedures for conventional method:

 Primary traverse
 Topographic features
 Leveling work- CL profiles & X-sections
 Drainage- type, number & size of Drainage structurs
 Soil survey- slope, pavement type & thickness

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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3. Preliminary survey(cont..)
2. Aerial photography method
 It is a modern approach by taking aerial photographs
(proposed corridor) & using photo interpretation
technique to obtain the necessary topographic, soil and
geological data.
 Then PS of various alternate alignments, a comparative
is made.
 Finally the most suitable alignment is selected.

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

 ROUTE SURVEY
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4. Final location survey
 Purpose:
 To fix the centerline of the selected alignment on the ground and
 To collect additional data for the design and preparation of working
drawings.
 Features of the final location survey:
 Pegging the center line
 centerline leveling
 X-section leveling
 Intersecting road
 The direction w.r.t the CL of all intersecting roads should be measured.
 Profiles and x- section
 Ditches and streams
 Profile and X-section leveling helps for location and construction of
culverts and bridges.

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.

Example:
Alternative#1
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Alternative #2
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Alternative #3
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 Route Selection
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Thank You!

QUESTIONS?

Adama Science and Technology university/Civil Engineering Dept.