Chapter 1

4/10/2010
By: Wondwossen Taddesse

COTM 3102:
3102: ROAD
& BRIDGE
CONSTRUCTION I
By: Wondwossen T.
Chair, infrastructure Design & Construction
,EIABC
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO ROAD
PLANNING AND DESIGN
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Objective: after completing this chapter the
student should able to

i. Understand the general considerations and
approaches for route selection
ii. Understand the steps for determining a
potential alignment
iii. Develop alternative alignments and
identify Technically feasible alternative for
further study
PLANNING AND DESIGN
I. Introduction
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What is Road?
It is a leveled path that is constructed to

facilitate the movement of goods and peoples
including animals by vehicles.
in short it is conduit that carries vehicular

traffic from one location to another.
Historically, the road construction back to the

human civilization and need for exploring his
environment. Accordingly, the Romans are
taken as pioneers.
PLANNING AND DESIGN
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However, the first indications of constructed
roads date from about 4000 BC and consist of

stone paved streets at Ur in modern-day Iraq and
timber roads preserved in a swamp in
Glastonbury, England.
Late 1800s Road Builders
The road builders of the late 1800s depended
solely on stone, gravel and sand for construction.
Water would be used as a binder to give some
unity to the road surface.

PLANNING AND DESIGN
John Metcalfe, a Scot born in 1717, built about 180 miles of
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roads in Yorkshire, England (even though he was blind).
His well drained roads were built with three layers: large
stones; excavated road material; and a layer of gravel.

DC to Richmond Road in 1919 – from the Asphalt Institute
PLANNING AND DESIGN
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Modern tarred roads were the result of the work
of two Scottish engineers, Thomas Telford and

John Loudon McAdam. Telford designed the
system of raising the foundation of the road in
the center to act as a drain for water.
Thomas Telford (born 1757) improved the method
of building roads with broken stones by analyzing
stone thickness, road traffic, road alignment and
gradient slopes. Eventually his design became
the norm for all roads everywhere.
John Loudon McAdam (born 1756) designed roads
using broken stones laid in symmetrical,
tight patterns and covered with small
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stones to create a hard surface. Macadam's
design, called "macadam roads," provided
the greatest advancement in road

construction.
PLANNING AND DESIGN
Highway engineering deals with provisions for
4/10/2010

meeting public needs for highways;
environmental impact of highways;

planning, design, construction, maintenance, and
rehabilitation of highways;
economics and financing of highway construction;
traffic control; and safety of highways.
In general term highway development involves
the following three basic engineering design
aspects.
1. Geometric Design
2. Drainage design
3. Pavement Design
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
Geometric design is the process whereby the
layout of the road through the terrain is designed

to meet the needs of the road users.
The principal geometric features are
the road cross-section and
horizontal and
vertical alignment
Geometric design starts with the selecting of

route
4/10/2010 By: Wondwossen Taddesse
Route Selection
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
Introduction :
The origin – destination survey and estimated traffic

volume studies first conducted to justify that two
points needs to be connected. [this is part of
Transport planning]
Once the decision is reached to connect two points

through a Road. Then the selection of the Roadway
alignment is begin to ensure the most economical,
technically feasible and environmentally friendly
road.
The concern of this chapter is then focus on selection
of this alignment
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
General Procedures for selection of
Alignment

1. Examination of Natural and Manmade features
Selection of alignment should be done by relating
Topographic features, Human habitation, environmental
features of the area under consideration to the geometric
design control
The main information sources include;

Topographic maps (contour maps)
Areal Photographs
Geological and soil maps
Ground survey and site visit
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
The main uses of the Topographic, geological
maps and land use maps include;

To identify unsuitable ground condition like wet land,
rock outcrop, areas subjected to flash flood or
avalanche e.t.c
To examine Contour lines and obtain an initial

estimate of gradient on undulating or mountainous
parts; delineate steeper slopes
PLANNING AND DESIGN
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Define streams, rivers and ravines e.t.c for possible
need of bridge or other expensive ancillary works

List other features of interest not to be crossed by
the road. For instance
Environmentally sensitive area [parks, zoo, e.t.c]
Cultural and historical heritages [cemetery, e.t.c.]
Habitations
Avalanche areas
Identify areas of interest to be connected [market
places e.t.c]
Prepare different overlays with different alternative
/potential routes
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
2. Identification of technically feasible
alternative alignments

“Technically feasible route” is the one with minimum
construction and maintenance problem and such that
the design controls ad policy on Geometric design
standards are adhered to.
a route may be Technically feasible but not

economically justifiable and environmentally
acceptable.
3. Preliminary Environmental and
Economic analysis and Evaluation
a preliminary cost-benefit analysis and environmental
analysis is conducted before detail design is done
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
1. Guideline for selection of Technically
feasible route
i. Run the alignment on as high ground [ridge line] as

possible. [for drainage, reducing cut, e.t.c]
ii. Run alignments on soils that provide better

subgrade support, consecutively reduce pavement
thickness.
iii. Run alignment that satisfies the required design

standard
iv. Consider the proximity of the road to road

construction materials
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
v. Avoid marshy area and water logged areas, weak
subgrade and expansive soil areas as much as
possible

vi. Run alignment as short as possible
vi. Avoid river crossings as much as possible and if it

is a must chose the narrower bank and
perpendicularly
vii. Avoid alignment with sharp curve, areas of poor

visibility, steeper slope, e.t.c so that the safety
requirements will be insured
viii. Make special considerations at intersections with

other roads
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
I. Selection of preferred Alignment
Out of different potential alignments, the best route

is selected based on its:
1. Economic feasibility [ construction,
maintenance and operation cost Vs Economic
benefit]
2. Environmental feasibility [ based on different
Environmental Impact assessment criteria's and
EIS]
3. Safety [ ensured by adherence to the geometric
design standards and policies ]
Approaches typically involves compromise between
the user cost and construction cost while seeking a
route that result in least impact to Environment.
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
“….the basic task is to predict the total life cycle
cost –construction, maintenance and road users

cost as a function of the road design,
maintenance standards”.
Example:
Option II
Option I
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
In the above example:
Option I :

higher user cost [longer travel time, operating cost(fuels,
spare parts) ] due to its length
Lesser construction cost
Option II
Higher construction cost due to ancillary cork [tunnel]
Lesser user cost
The preferred alignment is the one with the least

cost –benefit ration or the one with least
monetary cost and acceptable non monetary cost
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
Steps for determining potential horizontal
alignment

Step 1: Examine contours along the shortest
path and estimate the steepest ground slope
along the route
A
Let in the example;

x y
Line A-B represents the B
shortest path
Let the slope of x-y be

more than permissible
value , then the shortest
path will not justify
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
A
Step 2:
Draw a new trial

alignment that reduces x y
the ground slope B
Step 3:
Convert the sketch in to
dimensioned Tangent and
circular curve
PLANNING AND DESIGN
NGL
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Step
q4:
Elevation
RFL
Construct the profile of

NGL and the proposed
road level.
Check:
•The maximum
slope
•The maximum
depth of cut and Station
fill
•The balance of cut
and fill
•Grades near
intersections
•E.t.c
Example: Alignment 1

Alignment 2

Alignment 3

EVALUATION SUMMARY TABLE [EXAMPLE]
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Criteria Evaluation Results
Alternative Alternative Alternative
I II III

Length
Design Control
Cut & fill Balance
Need for special
structure
Environmental Impact
Potential High cost Item
PLANNING AND DESIGN
4/10/2010
Route selection & Drainage
As said before, an initial drainage design indicating

the main location of catchments, ditches, culverts and
bridge is important
Alignment may be altered if the road can not drained

adequately or if it affects the existing drainage
pattern
According to ERA, Geometric manual, Route
corridors can be classified in to three as
Ridge Top alignment
Compound Alignment
Valley floor alignment

Ridge top alignments
are often the most stable and least costly. They are
favored on socio economic and environmental ground,
4/10/2010
as they usually follow established line of
communication
Mountainous sections

Difficult and the least preferred alignment.
It calls for departure from Standard
Roads in mountainous section
can gradually traverse with
side slops at limiting gradient
or using switch back curves
Valley floor Alignment
Advantages
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Relatively little climbing & descending
which make the route ; shorter, lower vehicle

operating cost, higher speed
A readily supply of construction materials
Disadvantage
High cost of bridges and cross drainage
structures
On socio economic back ground valley routes
are not favored if majority of the society lives

on ridge top
Drainage problems
THANK YOU
? ANY QUESTION

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4/10/2010

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

in short it is conduit that carries vehicular

Historically, the road construction back to the

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

John Metcalfe, a Scot born in 1717, built about 180 miles of

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

Highway engineering deals with provisions for

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

Geometric design starts with the selecting of

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

Once the decision is reached to connect two points

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

The main information sources include;

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

To examine Contour lines and obtain an initial

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

a route may be Technically feasible but not

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

ii. Run alignments on soils that provide better

iii. Run alignment that satisfies the required design

iv. Consider the proximity of the road to road

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

vi. Avoid river crossings as much as possible and if it

vii. Avoid alignment with sharp curve, areas of poor

viii. Make special considerations at intersections with

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

The preferred alignment is the one with the least

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

Let in the example;

Let the slope of x-y be

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

Alignment may be altered if the road can not drained

Valley floor alignment

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

By: Wondwossen Taddesse

are not favored if majority of the society lives

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