CE 103

HIGHWAY AND RAILROAD ENGINEERING

MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION

1. THE PROFESSION OF TRANSPORTATION

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2. IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION

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3. BRIEF HISTORY OF ROADS

Early roads with hard surfaces were found in the land of Mesopotamia. These roads
were constructed as early as 3,500 B.C. Another stone-surface roads were also found in the
Mediterranean island of Crete.

The early road systems were constructed primarily for the following purpose:
1. For the movement of armies in their conquest and for defense against
invasion.
2. For transport of food and trade of goods between neighboring towns and
cities.

The romans, who discovered cement, expanded their vast empire through extensive
road networks radiating in many directions from the capita city of Rome. Many of the roads
built by the Romans still exist even after 2,000 years.

Characteristically, roman roads were laid on three courses:

1. A layer of small broken stones.
2. Followed by layer of small stones mixed with mortar and then compacted
firmly.
3. Wearing course of massive stone blocks properly set and bedded with cement
mortar.

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 During the 17th century, under the reign of Napoleon the Great, France made a great
stride on road buildings. Jerome Tresaguet (1716-1796) the famous French Engineer
introduced new methods of construction and maintenance of stone roads. He improved the
crown, the drainage, and the grade of the road, including the stone foundation by reducing the
depth of broken stones to 25 centimeters. Tresaguet made it possible for Napoleon to build the
massive highways of France. He was accredited the title “Father of modern road building”.

Thirty years later, a Scottish Engineer born in Westminster Abbey, Thomas Telford
(1757-1834), president and founder of the Institute of Civil Engineer, introduced some
improvements in the construction methods of Jerome Tresaguet. The road foundation course
of Telford was made of stones having 3 inches minimum thickness, 5 inches breadth and 7
inches height. Smaller stones were driven by mauls on top voids and trued the surfaces by
breaking the projecting points. Telford employed a flat sub-grade, providing slight crown using
stones of varying sizes.

England followed the ongoing highway development started by France. The Macadam
road concept named after John Louden Mac Adam (1755-1836), another famous Scottish
Engineer road builder and contemporary of Telford, was developed and widely accepted. The
invention of road building equipment enhances the development of road in Europe. In 1858,
Eli Blake invented the first stone crusher and at the same period, a steam road roller weighing
30 tons was introduced in France by its inventor Aveling and Porter.

4. HIGHWAYS IN THE PHILIPPINES

In the early part of 1900, transportation in the country depended largely on trails,
waterways, railroad, earth roads and partially graveled roads. Highway in the Philippines at
that time is nothing more than a dream to most Filipinos. The American government initiated
the development of roadways in the Philippines, connecting towns, cities, and provinces. The
popular Macadam road type was introduced. It gained wide acceptance because of the abundant
supply of stones and gravel.
After the Second World War, the new independent Philippine government, continued
the rehabilitation and construction of roads and bridges, through the reparations and war
damages paid by the Japanese government. Other financial grants and aids received from the
U.S. government were used in the construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges.

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 Fifty years later, major highways and expressways were constructed through the
financial assistance and loans from foreign banks. Alongside with the industrialization program
of the government, vehicles of various types and sizes started flooding the roadways. Recent
Land Transportation records revealed that, more than 80,000 brand new vehicles were added
to their list every year. At an average of 5.0 meters road occupancy by these vehicles, the
DPWH must open 400 kilometers new roads every year. This data did not include yet the
roadway for second hand or surplus assembled cars. With this statistical report, solution to
traffic problems is nowhere in sight. Traffic problems were expected to worsen year after year.
The year 1960 to early part of 1980 was considered an automobile age. Cars were no
longer regarded as luxury item but a necessity in transporting people and goods, a necessity for
survival. Government new concept of development is to get the farmers out of the mud. It was
during this decade that road construction becomes a matter of priority of the government under
the slogan: “This nation is on Wheels”.

5. DIFFERENT MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

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5.1 MODAL COMPETITION

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5.2 MODAL SHIFT

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6. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

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7. CHARACTERISTICS OF ROAD TRANSPORT

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  STUDENT ACTIVITY NO. 1

1. IS TRANSPORTATION VERY IMPORTANT? WHY SHOULD YOU STUDY THE

SUBJECT AND PERHAPS CONSIDER TRANSPORTATION AS A PROFESSIONAL
CAREER?
2. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CONDITION OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES IN THIS CURRENT YEAR?
3. DESCRIBE YOUR HOME MUNICIPALITY’S TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
INCLUDE BOTH PASSENGER AND FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION.
4. ESTIMATE THE PROPORTION OF YOUR MONTHLY BUDGET THAT IS SPENT ON
TRANSPORTATION. SPECIFY THE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AND EXPRESS IN
PERCENTAGE. DESCRIBE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PROPORTION.
5. DESCRIBE HOW TRANSPORTATION INFLUENCED THE INITIAL SETTLEMENT AND
SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR HOME MUNICIPALITY.

REFERENCES:

1. Garber, Nicholas; & Hoel, Lester. 2009. Traffic and Highway Engineering, Fourth Edition,
Cengage Learning.
2. Fajardo, Max Jr. B., Elements of Roads and Highways, Second Edition, 5138 Merchandising
Publisher, Manila, 1998.
3. Rodrigue, Jean-Paul. The Geography of Transport Systems, Fifth Edition, Routledge, 2020.

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