Hill Road (DCE- III Year)

Unit 2: Hill Road Alignment

2. 1 Introduction
The hill road is one which passes through a terrain with a cross slope of 25% or more. The dif-
ferent types of hill road based on terrain are as below:
S.N. Type of Terrain Cross Slope
1 Plain or Level Terrain (0 – 10)
2 Rolling Terrain (10 -25)
3 Mountainous (25-60)
4 Steep > 60%

Selecting an alignment in the hilly region is a complex task. The designer should attempt to
choose a short, easy, economical and safe comforting route.
2.2 Factors affecting hill road alignment
1. Temperature
2. Rainfall
3. Atmospheric pressure and winds
4. Geological conditions

Temperature
Air temperature is in the hills is lower than in the valley. The temperature drop being approxi-
mately 0.5° per 100 m of rising. On slopes facing south and southwest snow disappears rapidly
and rain water evaporates quickly while on slopes facing north and northeast rain water or snow
may remain for the longer time. Unequal warming of slopes, sharp temperature variations and
erosion by water are the causes of slope facing south and southwest.
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Rainfall
Rainfall increases with increase in sea level. The maximum rainfall is in the zone of intensive
cloud formation at 1500-2500 m above sea level. Generally, the increase of rainfall for every 100
m of elevation averages 40 to 60 mm. In summer very heavy storms may occur in the hills and
about 15 to 25% of the annual may occur in a single rainfall. The effects of these types of rainfall
are serious and should be considered well.

Atmospheric pressure and winds

It decreases with increase in elevation. At high altitudes, the wind velocities may reach up to 25-
30 m/s and depth of frost penetration is also 1.5 to 2 m. Intensive weathering of rocks because of
sharp temperature variations which cause high winds.

Geological conditions
The inclination of folds may vary from horizontal to vertical stratification of rock. These folds
often have faults. Limestone or sandstone folds may be interleaved with layers of clay which
when wetted may cause fracturing along their surface. This may result in shear or slip fold. The
degree of stability of hill slopes depends on types of rock, degree of strata inclination or dip, oc-
currence of clay seams, the hardness of the rocks and presence of ground water. When locating
the route an engineer must study the details of geological conditions of that area and follow sta-
ble hill slopes where no ground water, landslides.

The main factors to be considered while deciding the alignment of hill roads are given be-
low.

Length
The cost of construction of a hill road per kilometer length is comparatively very high. It should
therefore be ensured that length of the road connecting two stations should be minimum possible,
adopting ruling gradient along its most of the length.
Altitude of the road
At lower altitudes, large numbers of cross drainage works are required to be constructed. Where-
as at higher altitudes, the road pavement may witness snowfall during winter. This is why the
alignment of hill roads should preferably be provided at an altitude between 900 m slopes ex-
posed to sun. The hill slopes which are subjected to high winds should never be selected unless
and until there is no other alternative. In northern hemisphere, southern slopes of the hills are
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 Hill Road (DCE- III Year)

more suitable than northern slopes which remain tin shades and are usually subjected to high
winds.
Saddles or passes
While locating contour gradient of the proposed alignment of a hill road on a contour map, it
should cross the ranges through saddles. Though length of the road is increased, the heavy cost
of cutting through rocks is avoided. Due to increased length, ruling gradients can be suitably ad-
justed.
Stability of hill slope
While deciding the alignment of hill roads, it should be ensured that the slopes are stable and not
very steep. The area is not prone to landslides and settlements. This factor is of special im-
portance in hills having sedimentary rocks.
Geological structure
Cutting through solid hard rock’s is very expensive. The alignment of roads may be suitably de-
viated to avoid such areas.
Tunnels
Drilling of tunnels is very expensive. The long tunnels needed ventilation as well as lighting ar-
rangement. As far as possible, tunnels should be avoided and resorted to only if other suitable
alternative is not feasible.
Valleys
While deciding the alignment for crossing a river valley, due consideration should be given to
avoid construction of a number of bridges on its attributes.
Geometric standards
The alignment of the hill roads should be selected on the hill slope which easily provides rec-
ommended geometric standards i.e. gradients, curves, sight distance etc. Hairpin bends on roads
should be avoided and if found necessary, these should be on gentle and stable slopes. To have
proper geometric standards, it might be necessary to change the alignment at number of places.
Camping sites
At intermittent distance, the alignment of the hill road should pass through gentle slopes where
suitable camping sites could be developed for military personnel in case of necessity.
2.3 Survey Methods
Before a highway alignment is finalized in highway project, the engineering surveys are to be
carried out. The various stages of engineering surveys are:
 Map study (Provisional alignment Identification).

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 Hill Road (DCE- III Year)

 Reconnaissance survey.
 Preliminary survey.
 Final location and detailed surveys

Map study (Provisional alignment Identification).

This is the first step of the Engineering survey, using a topographic map of the area under con-
sideration. we can propose different alternatives of the road alignment. This topographic map, in
general, have a contour interval of around 30 m to 40 m.
We can get the details of the natural and artificial features of the area using the topographic map,
and accordingly, we can suggest a number of alternatives for the road alignment. These routes
are further studied in the Reconnaissance survey.

Reconnaissance survey
So in the second phase/step a survey team is headed to the area under study with the minor sur-
veying instruments like Abney level, Tangent Clinometers etc. to do a rough survey of the area
under study.
The rough survey is done along the alternatives proposed in the map study and feasibility of the
road alignment is checked along the different routes.
Some of the routes may be cancelled out or they may be changed if they appear to be impossible
in this study. So finally they will have a set of routes which are to be further studies in the next
step.
Preliminary survey
In this step, the alternative routes which are proposed after a rough survey in the second step are
surveyed in details using some advanced instruments like levels, chain and theodolite. Aerial
Photogrammetric is best suited for this type of survey.
All the necessary details to carry out the comparative study of the different routes are collected
and then finally we have to decide one alignment best suited for the alignment of the road.
Here various details are found out along the stretches of the routes, which can also be found us-
ing the aerial techniques by taking photographs along the routes and then further processed to
find out the final details of the area.
Different kind of surveys, such as Soil investigations, cross-sectioning and profiling, marine sur-
veying, hydrology data collection, obligatory points, industries and population surveys are nec-
essary along the routes and only then it is possible to have a fair comparison of the different

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 Hill Road (DCE- III Year)

routes.
So finally one among all of them is chose and drawings are prepared on the sheet which will
show its alignment to be shifted on to the ground.

Final location and detailed surveys

In this fourth phase of the Engineering Survey for the highway location, we have a drawing
of the alignment and we have to go through the further two processes:
(a) Location (b) Detailed Survey

Location:-
Location of the centerline of the road is done with very much precise instrument like Theodolite
and Chain using the drawing prepared or the details gathered in the third step(i.e. Preliminary
survey). This is done by staking the ground with the stakes inserted at the intervals of 50 m to
100 m in the plain area, 50 m to 75 m in the rolling terrain and 30 m to 50 m in the hills and
steep terrain.
Pegs may be driven at all the control points. At the curves control points, starting of the transi-
tion curve, starting off the circular curve and terminal of the circular curve and the terminal of
the transition curve the pegs/stakes are driven into the ground to firmly locate these control
points. Benchmarks are located at an interval of 250 m and they are necessarily located at the
sites of the cross drainage works.

Detailed Survey:
In this part, we have carried out the detailed study of the final route using some very precise in-
struments like Theodolite and Chain to gather all the necessary data for the final estimation, de-
sign and preparing drawings using which the construction can be started. A detailed project re-
port is to be prepared and all the necessary data is collected to prepare that report.
So, the profiling, cross-sectioning and soil investigation are carried out very precisely. CBR val-
ues are also found to find out the design thickness of the pavement. After collecting the data a
final drawing a report is prepared which concludes the highway planning part.

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 Hill Road (DCE- III Year)

2.4 Hill road route location process

Hill roads may follow different path according to the feasibility of the road. However, a hill road
alignment varies for the sections along the valley bottom and along the mountain pass. The first
is called river route and the second is called ridge route
River route
The location of a route along a river valley is the most frequent case of hill alignment as there is
a great advantage of running a road at a gentle gradient. Also, there is a benefit of low construc-
tion cost and operation cost.
However, a river valley may run through numerous horizontal curves. Requirements for the con-
struction of large bridges over tributaries also may occur. It may also be necessary to construct
special retaining structures and protection walls on hill side for safe guarding the road against
avalanches
Some important considerations
 Road bed should be located sufficiently above and away from the maximum water level.
 When the road bed is near to the waste water course embankment slope should be well pro-
tected and stabilized.
 More care should be given to geological and hydrological structures.
 Best alternatives should be selected for crossing water sources

For example, as shown in figure a road is to be connected from A to B.

The first alternative runs through alluvial making a bridge. However, it may not be feasible un-
less there are strong foundations which may increase construction cost greatly. The second alter-

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 Hill Road (DCE- III Year)

native is located above the alluvial fan through which the bridge length is greatly reduced simi-
larly; other options like route III or IV may also be chosen depending upon the economic
Comparison

Ridge route
 It is characterized by the very steep gradient.
 A large number of sharp curves occur on the road with hair pin bends.
 Extensive earthwork is required.
 The requirement for the construction of special structures.
 The necessity of long length away from the air route.

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