Planning of National Roads:

The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB)

● the government's regulatory body for housing and land development.
● they assist in planning and promulgating standards and rules for land planning, zoning,
and land development.
● these offices submit their land use and zoning plans to the HLURB as follows:
● these offices provide the HLURB with their land use and zoning plans:
○ Provincial Planning Development Office(PPDO)
○ City Planning Development Office(CPDO)
○ Municipal Planning and Development Office(MPDO)

Expressway
● also called throughway, thruway, parkway, freeway, superhighway, or motorway,
● a major arterial divided highway that features two or more traffic lanes in each direction,
with opposing traffic separated by a median strip; elimination of grade crossings;
controlled entries and exits; and advanced designs eliminating steep grades, sharp
curves, and other hazards and inconveniences to driving.

(Image 1.0) Median Strip (Image 1.1)Grade Crossing

● Elements to be considered when planning an Expressway:

○ No frontage access
○ Development set well back from the highway
○ Grade-separated intersections for extremely high flows and other intersecting
expressways
○ Number of intersections to be minimized
○ Where necessary or for emergency purposes, parking/stopping is to be provided
clear of the main carriageway.
National Road
● also called major road or highway
● are continuous to the extent that forms part of the main trunk line system; all roads lead
to national ports, national seaports, parks, or coast-to-coast roads.
● National arterial roads are classified into different groups from the viewpoint of function:
○ North-south backbone
○ East-West Laterals
○ Other Strategic Roads

● Elements to be considered when planning a National Road:

○ Limited frontage access
○ Development set well back from the highway
○ All access to premises is provided via provincial roads
○ Number of intersections to be minimized
○ Suitable at-grade channelized intersections for minor flows and other elements
○ No roadside vendors

Bypasses
● countermeasures aimed at improving safety and reducing the volume of traffic inside the
community.
● The things to be considered are:
○ The opportunity should be taken to reinforce the road to discourage through
traffic;
○ Access to the bypass should be restricted to only a few points where safe
intersections and spur roads can be provided to line the existing network. Direct
access from the frontage land should not be permitted;
○ Provisions should be left for future expansion or development of the community
but such developments should be served by service roads and spur roads.

● Where a bypass cannot be justified, countermeasures should be implemented to slow

down the speeds of traffic as it passes through the community or trading centers as
follows:
○ Warning Signs and Rumble Strips, to alert drivers of the speed-reducing devices
ahead.
○ Road Humps, between 40 mm to 80 mm are used to slow down traffic in the
pedestrian-predominated area,
○ Road Narrowing, to induce lower speeds as traffic passes through a community.
○ A form of gateway treatment

Factors for road designs:

● The function of the road ● Anticipated speed limit

● Anticipated operating speed ● Economics
Speed Limits:

At the start of a new speed zone, a speed limit sign should be erected on the left and right sides
of the road. Then within the first kilometer, there should be two farther pairs of repeater speed
limit signs. After that, repeater signs should be placed at a one km spacing

On open country roads with no “blind corners” and not closely bordered by habitation, the speed
limits are:
● 80 kph, for passenger cars and motorcycles
● 50 kph, for motor trucks and buses

On "through streets" or boulevards clear of traffic and with no "blind corners" designated, the
speed limits are:
● 40 kph, for passenger cars and motorcycles
● 30 kph, for motor trucks and buses

On city and municipal streets, with light traffic, when not designated “through streets”, the speed
limit are:
● 30 kph, for passenger cars and motorcycles
● 30 kph, for motor trucks and buses

Through Crowded streets, approaching intersections at “blind corners”, passing school zones
passing other stationary vehicles, or for similar dangerous circumstances, the speed limit are:
● 20 kph, for passenger cars and motorcycles
● 20 kph, for motor trucks and buses

The speed limit in high-risk pedestrian areas for cars and motorists is 30 kph.

The speed limit in low-risk pedestrian areas for cars and motorists is 60 kph.

The speed limit appropriate on roads where there are no footpaths and pedestrians are required
to walk on the road is 40 kph.

The speed limit appropriate on a high-standard duplicated carriageway road where there is only
occasional access from adjoining properties is 80 kph.

The speed limit appropriate on very high-standard expressways is 100 kph.

The speed limit appropriate on lower standard expressways is 80 or 90 kph.

Source:
Venancio I. Besavilla(2017). Transportation, Highway Engineering and Ports & Harbor. VIB
Publisher.

Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. (2009, October 29) DBM
https://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/OPCCB/OPIF2010/OEO/HLURB.pdf

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2018, September 20). expressway. Encyclopedia

Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/expressway-road