HIGHWAY AND RAILROAD ENGINEERING | NOTES
TOPIC 2.1 DESIGNING THE HIGHWAY
1. What are the considerations in designing the
road alignment and what is the minimum
requirement for the radius in designing a road
alignment?
Refer to the ppt. for considerations
(1) The first consideration in designing road alignment is
the TERRAIN. Because we are avoiding the curves. But
it can’t be avoided especially when designing in a
mountainous area. We should avoid cliffs that are why we
have curves – our alignment should be relevant to the
terrain. It is better if gamay atong curve.
We should know how to read the contours. You will see it
in PLAN AND PROFILE.
(2) Another consideration is the CURVE. Our minimum
radius for the curve is 30 meters.
(3) Consideration – Avoid BROKEN-BACK especially
in designing compound curves.
Minimum distance = 250 meters (end and
beginning of the curve to be able to avoid broken-back,
because when not adhere prone to accidents)
Minimum for broken-back = 50 to 60 meters
transition because 250 meters is hard to acquire.
(4) In reverse curves,
CONNECTING TANGENT – The distance
between the reverse curves and connecting tangents must
not exceed 30 meters.
(5) PASSING SIGHT DISTANCE, STOPPING
SIGHT DISTANCE, & HEADLIGHT – important
sight distances for vertical curves.
PASSING SIGHT DISTANCE
Minimum (AASHTO) = 200+ per 50 kpm
Minimum (LOCAL) = (Bypass/Local Road
Bypasses) For 30 meters we have 120 meters minimum
for passing sight distance.
K-VALUE (vertical curve, ginabantayan og ayo) –
changes per grade
Minimum K-Value for PSD = 17 meters
Minimum K-Value for SSD = 2 meters
Length of Vertical Curve (Start to End)
Minimum = 60 meters (but we should avoid na atong k-
value kay ingani ka steep)
2. What are the considerations in making
channelization, flaring, or pag-tuyok?
(1) In designing channelization, we should first consider
the type or the character of the intersecting roads,
vehicular strength traffic volume or Average Annual
Daily Traffic (AADT), and the type and size of the
vehicle that will accommodate that certain
channelization.
(2) Interchanges – helps to divert traffic.
The first consideration should be the AREA.
(3) Super Elevations – important that there is Super E
ang curve para smooth ang transition sa atong roads.
3. What are the considerations in designing at-
grade intersections?
(1) In designing FLARING,
Minimum radius for National Highway = is 50
meters, (Local Roads) 30 meters.
(2) First we should consider that we won’t tap into our
alignment curve. You should never intersect in the curve,
only intersect where there is no curve. Our SD and PD
should be equal. Our grade should not be too steep. Our
Flaring dapat dili ra liko kayo.
TOPIC 3 & 4 SOIL & SOIL TEST AND
SURVEY
1. What is the importance of geotechnical
investigation?
For soil, we need to conduct geotechnical investigations
to know the classifications, properties and strength of soil.
And when it comes to road construction, geotechnical
investigation is important to know if sakto atong
butangan sa alignment para sa atong project.
Geologist are the one who conducts geotechnical
investigations (preliminary) and they will include in their
geohazard report what type of soil there is in a certain area
of the project.
2. What are the types of geotechnical
investigations?
Refer to the ppt.
3. Differentiate between the borehole and test pit.
Boreholes and test pits are involved in road construction.
A test pit is typically excavated by hand, backhoe or
similar equipment; borings are made with drilling and
augering equipment.
The advantages of boreholes is that greater depths can
be achieved and more detailed soil and rock strengths can
be recorded. Also, a borehole will disturb a far smaller area
than a trial pit – too much ground disturbance is not ideal
as it can affect the construction.
Test pit and borehole have the same purpose – to identify
the soil types and layers. But, the test pit can be used/
excavated by hand or small shovel kay ang kaluton ra kay
1.5 to 2 meters depth. In the Philippines, this is used
for slope protection or embankment. Boring can
excavate even deeper.
Ang nakalot dayon from test pit and boring kay mao na
dayon itest sa laboratory. And after sa testing, mabal an
na dayon if passable or viable.
HIGHWAY AND RAILROAD ENGINEERING | NOTES
In designing SLOPE PROTECTION, mag-use of GEO
5.
4. What is the minimum distance each centerline
after conducting test pit?
Every 250 meters distance for test pit. (PLAN &
PROFILE). Same pod sa borehole – but ang depth kay 1.5
times or 2 times sa height sa proposed structure’s slope
protection. While sa test pit kay 1.5 meters depth.
5. What is the purpose of the plastic limit?
PLASTIC LIMIT – finding how strong the given soil is
and also the classification of the type of soil.
6. Purpose of Sieve Analysis
SIEVE ANALYSIS – to determine the percentage of
various grain sizes. Used to determine the textural
classification of soil (gravel, sand, silty…)
7. What is the purpose of moisture density
relation?
MOISTURE DENSITY RELATION – to determine the
maximum dry density attainable under specified nominal
compaction energy for a given soil and the optimum…
8. What is the purpose of specific gravity?
9. What is the purpose of the California Bearing
Ratio?
10. What is the purpose of the Atterberg Limit
Test?
TOPIC 5 CONSTRUCTING THE
ROADBED
1. From different kinds of excavation, what is the
pay item number for Surplus Rock Excavation?
Item 102 – EXCAVATION
When you are quantifying/ estimating, it’s not
allowed for different types of excavation to have different
item numbers so that as a contractor you will be able to
easily identify what type of excavation you are having
when you check the summary of quantities.
Pre-splitting is the process of how to perform
excavation/ how to excavate.
Item 102(3)a – Soft Rock Excavation
Item 102(3)b – Hard Rock Excavation
2. What is Surplus Common Excavation?
Item 102(2) Surplus Common Excavation – rock
excavation
(1) Materials for Surplus Common Excavation – from
the “common” term. The materials to excavate are soil
materials (suitable soils). (2) Suitable materials – mga
pwede ihapak sa tambak.
(1) Item 102(3) Surplus Rock Excavation – excavating
rock materials (unsuitable). (2) Unsuitable – mga dili
pwede magamit sa pagtambak. (3) Rock Excavation – or
bukid na composed of rocks and the method for excavation
is pre-splitting; either drilling or blasting, but mostly
blasting.
Item 102(1) Unsuitable Excavation
3. If you are the contractor (ongoing sa project;
done na sa layout and all) what if you encounter a
mountain whose materials are mainly rocks (Item
102(3)), but during quantification, DPWH only
considers Surplus Common Excavation (assumed),
and Rock Excavation is fairly expensive, how will
you as a contractor be able to claim the pay for that
item?
Surplus Rock Excavation and Surplus Common
Excavation have different prices and rock excavation is
more expensive because it requires complex processes like
pre-splitting.
Simply, mag request or send letter sa DPWH
As a contractor, you should issue a request or letter.
You will go/ report to your Project Engineer to add an
item and the Project Engineer will tell you to write a letter
to the RE and you will request an investigation/
inspection team in your project.
RIT (Regional Inspectorate Team) from DPWH –
composes of higher-up people who will go to the site to see
and investigate and make a report if what you claim is
true. And they will be the ones who will make Soil Re-
classification Report that you will be attached to your
"As-Staked" Plan.
The one who checks the "As-Staked" Plan if you request
a new item especially if rock excavation (pangitaon ani na
attachment kay ang report na gihimo sa RIT) para ma-
approved since expensive ang item for rock excavation
jud. They will do variation (changes sa mga existing
item).
"As-Staked" Plan – if the government makes a survey,
the contractor also makes a survey. That is why it is called
the "As-Staked" Plan – before pa himoon ang project;
like gaplano pa.
“As-Built” Plan – done na ang project. Complete na ang
project.
(1) Ayha ra dili mag-coincide ang plan sa
governmet and contractor if naay re-alignment. Re-
alignment – dili same og centerline (gisibog). (2) Cause of
Re-alignment – RIGHT OF WAY (Di magpa-sulod ang
land owner). So if ingani di na magmake og plan ang
government, dadto na dayon mabutang ang changes sa
"As-Staked" Plan sa contractor. Thus, maglahi ang
quantity sa earthworks.
For a project, the contractor will get a 5%
variation (ginansya) and they will claim that.
For every project, the contractor and the project engineer
from the government monitor the works and progress of
the project.
HIGHWAY AND RAILROAD ENGINEERING | NOTES
(a) Item 105(1) Subgrade Preparation

3. What is selected borrow for tapping? What is it?

And where/when is it used?

Selected Borrow for Topping – we can utilize this if

bigger atong embankment area compared sa cut(?) area.
Selected Borrow for Topping mao na ang gipalit na
yuta sa contractor for the embankment. Dadto na
siya mabutang if dako ang area sa field kaysa sa cut area.
If mas dako atong cut (suitable soils) mao na siya ibutang
sa embankment. *if wala ang canal, originally naka trapezoid na siya,
natambunan lang na sa lined canal.
Magbuy og yuta para mao ang itambak so different item
n ani siya. Item 105, you should consider from the CUT SECTION
to the LINED CANAL, but if walay structure, taman sa
4. Identifying plan (cross-section)
kung asa naa ang trapezoid.
To know more about these item numbers please download:

DO143 Series of 2017 sa DPWH DO

(a) Item 100(1) Clearing and Grubbing

Clearing and Grubbing – to clear vegetations.

*Coconet – slope stability; protection for soil erosion (like

matting)

*Walay labot si embankment kay icompact (Compaction-

preparation for foundation) na siya ang if magbutang pa
ka og 105 magdoble na. And if mag 105 ka diha ang
equipment kay nabayran na sa Item 104 – Embankment,
which is apil na ang compaction na.

*Item 105 dadto ra sa cut section kay dadto ra man ang i-

excavate.

Item 105(1) and Item 100(1) – ma-apply/ ma-

consider ra sa cut section.

(a) Item 200 Aggregate Subbase Course

*Wala nay i-clear sa embankment kay tambakan gani na

nimo og yuta!

In clearing and grubbing, magamit ra nato na siya in

CUT SECTION only not excluded ang embankment.
From the CUT padulong sa taas sa iyang horizontal
paingon sa ma-level siya then from that, mao na dayon
ang length sa imong clearing and grubbing.
If naay vegetation sa imong embankment area pwede ra
na siya dili kuhaon or iclear kay icompact/ tambakan ra
man gihapon na siya. EXCEPT nalang if naay kahoy
so imo na siya kuhaon ayha ka magtambak.
When man magamit ang Item 200?
If imong subgrade nakay ongrade na. On-grade meaning
nakapasar na sa maximum grade sa PCCP na.
Maximum = 12% for the local/ bypass roads
If dili pa on-grade imong subgrade kay magkalas kalas
raka.

BUT, if magkuha ka og kahoy naa na siya sa lahi na item

number, Item 100a3. One tree = 100 seedlings.