Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Content 3: Geomteric Design of Namboole Road
Table of Content 3: Geomteric Design of Namboole Road
TABLE OF CONTENT
1.0 INTRODUCTION 3
1.1 Background 3
1.2 Problem Statement 3
1.3 Objectives 3
1.4 Project Scope 3
3.0 METHODOLOGY 8
3.1 Introduction 8
APPENDICES 17
REFERENCES 18
LIST OF TABLES
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Namboole road is a 2.08km road class III paved road constructed in the late 1990’s to
serve as an access road to Mandela National Stadium off the Kampala-Jinja Highway.
This road lies between Kireka and Bweyogerere suburbs of Kampala City. The study
section of Nambole road covered a stretch of about 2.08km from the Kireka Junction with
Kampala-Jinja Highway towards Bweyogerere.
The geometric characteristics of the road comprise a 6.0m wide carriageway and about
1.5m shoulders. The road terrain is generally rolling with some occasional steep slopes
such as the one at Km 0.00 (Kireka Junction)
Access roads are the lowest level in the network hierarchy. Vehicular flows will be very
light and will be aggregated in the collector road network. Geometric standards may be
low and need only be sufficient to provide appropriate access to the rural agricultural,
commercial and population centres served. Substantial proportions of the total movements
are likely to be by non-motorized traffic (Robinson et al, 2004).
Following selection of functional classification and the choice of level of access control,
design standards are then applied to encourage the use of the road as intended. Design
features that can convey the level of functional classification to the driver include;
carriageway width, continuity of alignment, spacing of functions, frequency of access,
standards of alignment and grades, traffic controls and road reserve widths.
2.2 Division into Road Design Class
The Uganda Road Design Manual categorizes roads into six design classes of road. Design
Class I, II, & III are bitumen surfaced while design class A, B, & C are gravel surfaced.
Design class I is further subdivided into two classes namely; Ia is four lane and Ib two
lane.
The division into Road Design Class is governed by the design speed and design traffic.
There are many factors that affect the capacity of a road. These include design speed,
width, lateral clearance, grade, alignment, weaving sections, ramp terminals, traffic
composition, type of surface, and level of service.
2.3 Design Standards
The principal factors used to determine the standards to which a particular highway will be
designed are the level of service to be provided, expected traffic volume, design speed,
and the design vehicle. These factors, coupled with the basic characteristics of the driver,
vehicle, and road, are used to determine standards for the geometric characteristics of the
highway, such as cross sections and horizontal and vertical alignments (Garber et al
2009).
Selection of the appropriate set of geometric design standards is the first step in the design
of any highway. This is essential because no single set of geometric standards can be used
for all highways. For example, geometric standards that may be suitable for a scenic
mountain road with low average daily traffic (ADT) are inadequate for a freeway carrying
heavy traffic. The characteristics of the highway should therefore be considered in
selecting the geometric design standards (Garber et al 2009).
2.4 Design Controls And Criteria
Design Controls deal with characteristics of vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic that act as
criteria for the optimization or improvement in design of the various highway and street
functional classes (AASHTO, 2001).
2.5 Design Vehicles
Selected vehicles, with representative weight, dimensions, and operating characteristics,
used to establish highway design controls for accommodating vehicles of designated
classes are known as design vehicles (AASHTO, 2001).
In the design of any highway facility, the designer should consider the largest design
vehicle likely to use that facility with considerable frequency or a design vehicle with
special characteristics appropriate to a particular intersection in determining the design of
such critical features as radii at intersections and radii of turning roadways (AASHTO,
2001).
Trucks and buses generally require more generous geometric designs than do passenger
vehicles. This is largely because trucks and buses are wider and have longer wheelbases
and greater minimum turning radii, which are the principal vehicle dimensions affecting
horizontal alignment and cross section. Single-unit trucks and buses have smaller
minimum turning radii than most combination vehicles, but because of their greater off
tracking, the longer combination vehicles need greater turning path widths (AASHTO,
2001).
Mountainous terrain has sudden changes in ground elevation in both the longitudinal and
transverse directions, thereby requiring frequent hillside excavations to achieve acceptable
horizontal and vertical alignments. The design speed selected should be consistent with the
speed that motorists will expect to drive. For example, a low design speed should not be
selected for a rural collector road solely because the road is located in an area of flat
topography, since motorists will tend to drive at higher speeds. The average trip length on
the highway (Garber et al 2009).
The Uganda Road Design Manual 2010 (Volume 1: Geometric Design) categorizes roads
into six classes for purposes of design. Design class I, II, & III are bitumen surfaced.
Design Classes A, B, & C are gravel surfaced. Design class I is further divided into two. Ia
is four lane and Ib two lane. The division into Road Design Class is governed by the
design speed and design traffic. There are many factors that affect the capacity of a road.
These include design speed, width, lateral clearance, grade, alignment, weaving sections,
ramp Terminals, traffic composition, type of surface, and level of service.
Table 4-2a and 4-2 of the Uganda Road Design Manual Volume 1 Geometric Design gives
the details of the various road design classes
2.7 Choice of Design Standards
Since our project road’s major function is to provide access to Nambole Stadium and
being a paved road, it can be categorized as having a functional Class C and Design Class
III paved.
Table 4-2 below as extracted from the Uganda Road Design Manual (Volume 1 Geometric
Design) gives the cross sectional requirements various classes of roads.
For our chosen class of road we will have a roadway width of 8.6m with 5.6m undivided
carriageway flanked 1.5m wide shoulders.
Table 4-6 of the Uganda Road Design Manual 2010 (Volume 1: Geometric Design) gives
the geometric standards of class III roads through various terrain and the urban/peri-urban
area. Our Project road lies in the last category i.e. the Urban/Peri-Urban areas and our
horizontal and vertical alignment designs will be based these parameters.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
This chapter shall cover the identification of the project road road, site visit, field surveys
and detailed geometric design.
The team drove through numerous roads within and around the Kampala city to identify
the road that posed a challenge in its geometry. A unanimous decision was taken that
Namboole road had most the features that are a main concern to geometric design and was
selected for the study.
3.4 Survey
Topographical surveys to pick key features along the road that were considered essential
for the location of the road. The Topographical survey was undertaken using a Leica Total
Station for purposes of geometric design. A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) was then
generated using micropiste software.
Terrain Type
The Design Speed is varied depending on type of terrain through which the road traverses as
shown in Table 4-1. From the Road Design Manual the following definitions apply to the
different terrain:
Level Terrain: Level or gently rolling country which offers few obstacles to the
construction of a road having continuously unrestricted horizontal and
vertical alignment (transverse terrain slope around 5 %)
Rolling Terrain: Rolling, hilly or foothill country where the slopes generally rise and fall
moderately gentle and where occasional steep slopes may be encountered. It
will offer some restrictions in horizontal and vertical alignment (transverse
terrain slope around 20 %)
Mountainous: Rugged, hilly and mountainous country and river gorges. This class of
terrain imposes definite restrictions on the standard of alignment obtainable
and often involves long steep grades and limited sight distances (transverse
terrain slope up to 70 %)
By this definition the terrain along Namboole Road is mainly rolling as presented in Table 4.2
below.
As can be seen from Table 4-2, the terrain traversed by the road is entirely rolling (about 100%).
The selection of design speed for various sections of the road will generally be according to above
design speed standards and type of terrain traversed, but will at the same time take into account
that the project is an improvement in geometric design of the existing road.
These considerations on appropriate design speed in relation to type of terrain as well as existing
horizontal and vertical alignment standards respectively is shown in Table 4-4 below.
The horizontal alignment of the existing road may with minor realignments actually meet the
horizontal curvature standard for 50 km/h design speed.
From Table 4-4, it can be summarised that the design speed adopted in the preliminary engineering
design is as follows:
Proposed Revisions
Between Km 0.7-1.20, two short horizontal curves in the same direction have been combined into
one bigger curve.
The sharp curve of radius less than 75m towards the junction at the end has been improved by
realignment and the introduction of a horizontal curve of radius 150m
The minimum horizontal curvature standards given in Table 4. 5:able 4.6 are based on a maximum
superelevation rate of 4% as recommended in the Road Design Manual for urban roads
7000 NC
5000 NC
3000 NC
2500 NC
2000 NC
1500 NC
1400 NC
1300 NC
1200 NC
1000 NC
900 RC
800 RC
700 RC
600 RC
500 RC
400 2.5
300 2.8
250 3.1
200 3.3
175 3.5
150 3.7
140 3.8
130 3.8
120 3.9
119 3.9
110 4.0
100 4.0
Note: NC Normal crown, RC-Reverse crown
The minimum length required to apply the superelevation, L min, is calculated from the following
equation:
Where,
w = width of carriageway (m)
With a carriageway width of 5.6 m and a maximum rate of change of 0.64% applicable for a
design speed of 50 km/h the minimum length of superelevation run-off will be as shown in Table
4-7.
The superelevation will be applied by rotation of the carriageway around its centreline and so that
two-thirds of the superelevation run-off length is on the tangent and one-third on the curve.
Between Km 0.38-0.52, the gradient was less than 0.5% and has been improved to 0.5% which is
the minimum recommended for drainage purposes.
Between km 1.94 to 2.08 (approach to Kireka Junction), the gradient was greater than 7.5%, which
is too steep for an approach to a junction. It has been reduced to 5.5% and a sag curve with a
bigger K value has been introduced.
Between Km 0.82 and 1.42, inadequate sight distances were noted. A crest curve with a bigger K-
value has been introduced to replace the existing crest curves by introducing a continuous grade.
Improvement of low standard vertical curves will increase sight distance and hence the road safety.
In the design of longitudinal profile it has therefore been the aim to improve the low standard
vertical curves to be at least in compliance with the Road Design Manual concerning K-values (K
= L / A, where L = length of curve and A = algebraic difference in gradients) and minimum length
of curve as shown in the following table for the proposed design speeds depending on type of
terrain as shown in Table 4-8.
(km/h) Min. Des. Min. Des. Min. Des. Flat Rolling Mount.
50 9 9 11 11 100 100 4 (6) 7 (9) 9 (11)
60 16 17 16 24 45 120 4 (6) 6 (8) 8 (10)
70 20 30 20 30 50 140 4 (6) 6 (8) 7 (9)
80 35 45 25 40 60 160 3 (5) 5 (7) 7 (9)
90 45 75 30 50 70 180 3 (5) 5 (7) -
100 60 115 35 60 75 200 3 (5) 5 (7)
Source: MoWT Road Design Manual, January 2010
Note: Data shown in bold for design speed of 50 km/h, are applicable for mountainous terrain,
rolling terrain and level terrain respectively.
The above table also shows the maximum gradients according to Road Design Manual, where the
figures in bracket are applicable for light traffic roads and therefore applicable for the project road.
4.6 Junctions
Conflicting vehicle movements at junctions are a major cause of accidents in many developing
countries. A small number of well designed junctions on a route are preferable to a large number
of low standard junctions. Simple cross-roads have the worst accident records. Staggered cross-
roads or two separated T-junctions will reduce the accident rate.
Three types of standard junctions, as listed in Table 4-10, are proposed to be applied for the
various classes of side roads and plot accesses.
Carriageway
Junction Radii of
Width of Side Applicable for
Type Carriageway Edge
Road (m)
A 6.00 15 m Class Ib & III Paved
Only Type A junction was proposed at Kireka and Nambole due to the nature of turning
movements expected.
Accordingly, the size of the various sign board types for medium speed group (50-80 km/h) is:
• Side length of triangular signs: 900 mm
• Diameter of circular signs: 750 mm
• Capital letter height of informative signs: 210 mm
Road marking will be provided in accordance with the new MoWT Traffic Signs Manual (July
2004). In line with the recommendations in the manual it is proposed to use hot-applied
thermoplastic paint, which although it has higher initial cost than road paint, but far more durable
and therefore the most cost-effective.
The standard centreline will be a broken yellow line, 100 mm wide with 3m mark and 6m gap
since our road traverses urban areas.
The combination of continuous and broken line with 130mm separation is used where “no
overtaking” apply to one direction.
The edge line between the traffic lane and the shoulder shall according to the manual be a 100mm
wide solid white line. However, it is recommended to apply the thermoplastic paint with 100mm
long marks and 100mm gaps, a so-called acoustic edge line. This has several advantages:
• I driver moving unintentionally on to the shoulder, for instance by falling asleep, will get a
warning by the rumbling effect of the edge line.
• Drivers will due to the rumbling effect be less inclined to drive onto the shoulder and hereby
provide better separation between the vehicular traffic and the soft traffic (pedestrians and
bicyclists) using the shoulders.
• The gaps will ensure good drainage from the carriageway so risk of aqua-planning is reduced as
well as limiting water from entering the pavement layers.
Although the reconstruction design will ensure stopping sight distance along the entire road,
overtaking sight distance is restricted on many sections of the road. The full overtaking sight
distance is the minimum sight distance for a safe overtaking of another vehicle without interfering
with the speed of an oncoming vehicle travelling at the design speed.
The sight distance for use of the "no overtaking" markings shown in Table 4. 11:4.11 is based on
less demanding standard of safety - in which the overtaking vehicle is already at the speed of the
overtaken vehicle, and the driver can abandon the overtaking manoeuvre at any time up to the
point where he has drawn alongside the other vehicle.
4.9 Guardrails
To reduce the hazard of high embankments particularly at km 1.46-1.96, guardrails have been
proposed. The Uganda Road Design Manual does not give any specific criteria in that respect.
However, the Kenya Road Design Manual recommends guardrails to be installed where the
embankment height exceeds about 3 metres (depending on different conditions). The consequences
of this recommendation would be that about 1000m of guardrail would be needed
According to normal practise in Uganda the guardrails will be of the steel beam type. The
guardrail in itself poses a certain hazard, but this hazard is reduced by burying the ends into the
ground.
APPENDICES
REFERENCES
2. Nicolas J. Garber & Lester A Hoel Traffic and Highway Engineering (4 th Edition)