Classification of Roads and their Details

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Road transportation is an essential network for any country. This article discusses the
classification of roads based on many factors, such as materials, locations, and traffic.

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Contents: [hide]
 Classification or Types of Roads

o 1. Earthen Roads

o 2. Gravel Roads

o 3. Murrum Roads
 o 4. Kankar Roads

o 5. WBM Roads

o 6. Bituminous Roads

o 7. Concrete Roads

o 1. National Highways

o 2. State Highways

o 3. District Roads

o 4. Rural Roads or Village Roads

o 1. Light Traffic Roads

o 2. Medium Traffic Roads

o 3. High Traffic Roads

 Based on Traffic Type

o 1. Pedestrian Ways

o 2. Cycle Tracks

o 3. Motorways

 Based on Rigidity

o 1. Flexible Roads

o 2. Rigid Roads

 Based on Topography

o 1. Plain Area Road

o 2. Hilly Area Roads

o FAQs on the types of roads and their details

Classification or Types of Roads

The roads are classified based on many factors as follows.

 Materials

 Location & function

 Traffic volume
  Width

 Economy

 Traffic type

 Rigidity

 Topography
Based on Materials

1. Earthen roads

2. Gravel roads

3. Murrum roads

4. Kankar roads

5. WBM roads

6. Bituminous roads

7. Concrete roads
1. Earthen Roads
Earthen roads are laid with soil. They are cheaper than all types of roads. This type of
road is provided for fewer traffic areas or countryside areas. A good drainage system
should be provided, which reflects excellent performance for a more extended period.

Fig. 1: Earthen Road

2. Gravel Roads
Gravel roads are also low-quality roads, but they are better when compared with earthen
roads. A compacted mixture of gravel and earth is used as pavement material in this case.

Fig. 2: Gravel Road

3. Murrum Roads
Murrum is a matter obtained from the disintegration of igneous rocks by weathering
agencies. This is used to make roads called murrum roads.

Fig. 3: Murrum Roads

4. Kankar Roads
Kankar is an impure form of limestone. Kankar roads are provided where lime is
available in a reasonable quantity. The Kankar roads are low quality and performance.
 Fig. 4: Kankar Roads

5. WBM Roads
Water Bound Macadam (WBM) roads contain crushed stone aggregate in its base course.
The aggregates are spread on the surface and rolled after sprinkling water. WBM roads
provide better performance compared to earthen, gravel, murrum, and kankar roads.

WBM roads are laid as layers of about 10cm thickness of each layer. They are very rough
and may disintegrate immediately under traffic.

Fig. 5: WBM Roads

6. Bituminous Roads
Bituminous roads are prevalent roads around the world. They are the most used roads in
the world. This road types are low in cost and suitable for driving conditions. The
thickness of bituminous roads depends upon the subgrade soil conditions.
 Fig. 6: Bituminous Roads

7. Concrete Roads
Cement concrete is used to construct the pavements in case of concrete roads. These are
very popular and costlier than all other types of roads. They are not flexible, so they
require less maintenance.

Concrete roads are suitable for high traffic areas. They are laid with joints and time of
construction is more.

Fig. 7: Concrete Roads

Based on Location and Function

1. National highways

2. State highways

3. District roads
 4. Rural roads or village roads
1. National Highways
National highways are the main roads that connect all major cities to the capital of the
country. They run throughout the length and breadth of the country. A minimum two-lane
road is provided for national highways.

Fig. 8: National Highways

2. State Highways
State highways are the second main roads that connect significant parts of the state within
it. State highway ultimately connects to the national highways.

Fig. 9: State Highways

3. District Roads
District roads are provided within the cities and connect markets and production places to
state and national highways. Two types of district roads are there namely,

 Major district roads

 Minor district roads

Major district roads connect headquarters of the neighboring district with main parts of
the area while minor district roads are laid within the region.

Fig. 10: District Roads

4. Rural Roads or Village Roads

Village roads connect the nearby villages. They lead to a nearby town or district roads.
Usually, low-quality roads are provided as village roads because of low traffic.
Fig. 11: Rural Roads or Village Roads

Based on Traffic Volume

1. Light traffic roads

2. Medium traffic roads

3. High traffic roads

1. Light Traffic Roads
The roads which are carrying 400 vehicles daily on an average is called light traffic
reoads.

2. Medium Traffic Roads

If a road is carrying 400 to 1000 vehicles per day, then it is said to be a medium traffic
road.

3. High Traffic Roads

If a road is carrying is more than 1000 vehicles per day then it is considered as high
traffic road.
Based on Economy

1. Low-cost roads

2. Medium cost roads

3. High-cost roads
The economy depends upon the location and function of roads and also on the traffic
analysis.

Based on Traffic Type

1. Pedestrian ways

2. Cycle tracks

3. Motorways
1. Pedestrian Ways
Pedestrian ways are exclusively built for pedestrians, and no vehicles are permitted in this
way.

2. Cycle Tracks
Cycle tracks or bicycle tracks are provided on both sides of the pavement for cyclists;
hence they can travel safely.

3. Motorways
Motorways are also known as expressways. Only a few vehicles are accessible to use this
type of road. The cars which can move with high-speed acceleration are permitted in this
way. Motorways makes travel quick and provides comfort for high-speed vehicles.
Based on Rigidity
1. Flexible roads

2. Rigid roads
1. Flexible Roads
Flexible roads consist of a flexible layer as a pavement surface, which requires proper
maintenance; otherwise, it can be disintegrated easily with heavy traffic. All types of
roads except concrete roads fall under this category.

2. Rigid Roads
Rigid pavements are non-flexible and cement concrete roads are fall under this category.

Based on Topography
1. Plain area road

2. Hilly area roads

1. Plain Area Road
The roads constructed on leveled surface is known as plain area roads.

2. Hilly Area Roads

Roads constructed in hilly regions are called as hill area roads or ghat roads. Generally
these are provided around the hill in a spiral shape.
Fig. 11: Hilly Area Roads

FAQs on the types of roads and their details

?What are the types of roads based on construction materials?
1. Earthen roads
2. Gravel roads
3. Murrum roads
4. Kankar roads
5. WBM roads
6. Bituminous roads
7. Concrete roads

?What is a road?
A road is a way or route on land between two places that are paved or improved to permit
travel by transportation means such as cars, motor vehicles, and horses.

?How many layers are in in flexible pavement and rigid pavement?

Flexible pavement consists of four layers, namely, surface course, base course, subbase
course, and subgrade course.
However, rigid pavement consists of three layers; surface course, base course, and
subgrade course.

?What is the best material for road construction?

Asphalt is by far the best materials for the construction of roads. It is easy to handle
compared with concrete. Essential constituent materials are aggregated, such as sand,
gravel, stone, and petroleum byproducts.

?What is a concrete road?

Concrete road is constructed from cement concrete, and very popular and costlier than all
other types of roads. The concrete road needs less maintenance. It is suitable for high
traffic areas.
Read More:
Types of Concrete Pavements -Their Construction Details and Applications
Why is Bitumen Used in Road Construction? Properties and Advantage of Bitumen
for Pavements
Types of Pavement – Flexible Pavements and Rigid Pavements
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Types of Pavement – Flexible Pavements

and Rigid Pavements
Home/ Transportation/ Pavement Design

Contents: [show]

Types of Pavements
There are two types of pavements based on design considerations i.e. flexible pavement and rigid
pavement. Difference between flexible and rigid pavements is based on the manner in which the
loads are distributed to the subgrade. Before we differentiate between flexible pavements and rigid
pavements, it is better to first know about them. Details of these two are presented below:
Flexible Pavements
Flexible pavement can be defined as the one consisting of a mixture of asphaltic or bituminous
material and aggregates placed on a bed of compacted granular material of appropriate quality in
layers over the subgrade. Water bound macadam roads and stabilized soil roads with or without
asphaltic toppings are examples of flexible pavements. The design of flexible pavement is based on
the principle that for a load of any magnitude, the intensity of a load diminishes as the load is
transmitted downwards from the surface by virtue of spreading over an increasingly larger area, by
carrying it deep enough into the ground through successive layers of granular material.
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Fig: Flexible Pavement Cross-section

Thus for flexible pavement, there can be grading in the quality of materials used, the materials with
high degree of strength is used at or near the surface. Thus the strength of subgrade primarily
influences the thickness of the flexible pavement.
Rigid Pavements
A rigid pavement is constructed from cement concrete or reinforced concrete slabs. Grouted concrete
roads are in the category of semi-rigid pavements. The design of rigid pavement is based on
providing a structural cement concrete slab of sufficient strength to resists the loads from traffic. The
rigid pavement has rigidity and high modulus of elasticity to distribute the load over a relatively wide
area of soil.

Fig: Rigid Pavement Cross-Section

Minor variations in subgrade strength have little influence on the structural capacity of a rigid
pavement. In the design of a rigid pavement, the flexural strength of concrete is the major factor and
not the strength of subgrade. Due to this property of pavement, when the subgrade deflects beneath
the rigid pavement, the concrete slab is able to bridge over the localized failures and areas of
inadequate support from subgrade because of slab action.

Difference between Flexible Pavements and Rigid

Pavements
Sl.
Flexible Pavement Rigid Pavement
No.

It consists of a series of layers with the It consists of one layer Portland cement
1. highest quality materials at or near the concrete slab or relatively high flexural
surface of pavement. strength.

It reflects the deformations of subgrade It is able to bridge over localized failures

2.
and subsequent layers on the surface. and area of inadequate support.

Its stability depends upon the aggregate

Its structural strength is provided by the
3. interlock, particle friction and
pavement slab itself by its beam action.
cohesion.

Pavement design is greatly influenced Flexural strength of concrete is a major

4.
by the subgrade strength. factor for design.

It functions by a way of load It distributes load over a wide area of

5. distribution through the component subgrade because of its rigidity and high
layers modulus of elasticity.

Temperature variations due to change

Temperature changes induce heavy
6. in atmospheric conditions do not
stresses in rigid pavements.
produce stresses in flexible pavements.

Any excessive deformations occurring

Flexible pavements have self healing
due to heavier wheel loads are not
7. properties due to heavier wheel loads
recoverable, i.e. settlements are
are recoverable due to some extent.
permanent.

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