CE 132 - HIGHWAY AND

RAILROAD ENGINEERING

Eric G. Awa-ao, CE
Faculty, Civil Engineering Program
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

Objective:
 To be able to determine the classification of
roads, differentiate the road patterns and to
know the importance of planning survey.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
What is road?

 The road is a paved way or a route or a thoroughfare which drives you

to reach your destination through vehicles. Roads are classified based
on different criteria, each among them is further classified into
different types of roads.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
CLASSIFICATION OF ROADS (PHILIPPINES)
 The Philippine highway network is a network of national roads owned
and maintained by the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) and organized into three classifications according to their
function or purpose: national primary, secondary, and tertiary roads.

 The national roads in the Philippines are classified into three types by the
Department of Public Works and Highways under the Philippine Highway
Act of 1953 (Republic Act No. 917) and the series of memorandums issued
by the department between 2009 and 2014.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
CLASSIFICATION OF ROADS
 As of October 15, 2019, it has a total length of 21,646.10 kilometers
(13,450.26 mi) of concrete roads, 10,440.98 kilometers (6,487.72 mi) of
asphalt roads, 889.21 kilometers (552.53 mi) of gravel roads, and 41.96
kilometers (26.07 mi) of earth roads, with a grand total of 33,018.25
kilometers (20,516.59 mi).
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
 National Primary

 The national primary roads are roads which form parts of the main
trunk line system and directly connect three or more major cities and
metropolitan areas with a population of at least 100,000.

 They are further classified into the north–south backbone, east–west

lateral, and other roads of strategic importance.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
 National Secondary

 The national secondary roads are roads that complement the primary
roads and provide access to other major population centers.
 Directly connect cities to National Primary Roads, except in
metropolitan areas
 Directly connect major ports and ferry terminals (as defined by DOTr) to
National Primary Roads
 Directly connect major airports (as defined by DOTr) to National
Primary Roads
 Directly connect tourist service centers (as defined by DOT) to National
Primary Roads or other National Secondary Roads
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
 National Secondary

 Directly connect cities (not included in the category of major cities)

 Directly connect provincial capitals within the same region
 Directly connect major National Government Infrastructure to National
Primary Roads or other National Secondary Roads

 National Tertiary

 The third classification was introduced in 2014 known as national

tertiary roads.
 They include other existing roads administered by the DPWH which
perform a local function.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
Applicable only for Primary and Secondary Roads

 Bypass/Diversion Roads

 Roads that divert through traffic away from the city/municipality

business centers (with affirmative feasibility study)
 Roads that would connect or fill the gap between adjoining
national roads (protruding) to form a continuous national road
network.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
Local Roads
 Provincial Roads
 Connect cities and municipalities without traversing National
Roads.
 Connect to National Roads to barangays through rural areas.
 Connect to major provincial government infrastructure.
 Municipal and City Roads

 Roads within poblacion.

 Roads that connect to Provincial and National Roads.
 Roads that provide inter-barangay connections to major Municipal
and City Infrastructure without traversing Provincial Roads.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
 Barangay Roads

 Other Public Roads (officially turned over) within the barangay and
not covered in the above definitions.

 Expressways

 Highways with limited access, normally with interchanges; may

include facilities for levying tolls for passage in an open or closed
system.
EXAMPLES
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

NATIONAL PRIMARY
ROAD

PAN-PHILIPPINE HIGHWAY
ALSO KNOWN AS AH26, ASIAN
HIGHWAY 26, OR MAHARLIKA
HIGHWAY
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

NATIONAL
SECONDARY
ROAD

MATI-MARAGUSAN
ROAD
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

NATIONAL
TERTIARY ROAD

DAHICAN-LAWIGAN ROAD
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

PROVINCIAL ROAD

TAMISAN-LAWIGAN ROAD
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

MUNICIPAL OR CITY
ROAD

ST. DOÑA ROSA TO ST.

NAZARENO
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

EXPRESSWAYS

NORTHERN LUZON
EXPRESSWAY OR NLEX
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

What is Road Pattern?

 When the road is constructed in

patterns like rectangular, radial,
hexagonal, etc for the proper
management of traffic and also to
interconnect the branch roads with
main roads then it is called road
pattern.
 The main principle of road patterns is
to reduce the time and distance that
the vehicle takes to reach the
destination place. It also focuses on
the interconnection of branch roads.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
1. Rectangular or Block Pattern

• In this pattern; the whole area is divided into

rectangular blocks.
• Streets or branch roads intersect with each
other at the right angle.
• The main roads always pass through the
centre and it should be wide enough.
• Branch roads may be narrow as compared to
main roads.
• The main roads should be provided with a
direct approach to outside the city.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
2. Radial or Star and Block Pattern

• It is a combination of star and block

patterns.
• The entire area is divided into a radial
network of roads radiating from the centre
outwardly with a block pattern network of
roads in between the radial main streets.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
3. Radial or Star and Circular Pattern

• It is the pattern in which the main

roads(radial roads) radiates from the central
point and are connected with concentric
roads(ring roads) that are also radiating
outwardly.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
4. Radial or Star and Grid Pattern

• This pattern is formed by the combination of

Star and Grid Pattern.
• As in other, a radial network of road radiates
from the centre outwardly. Then, the main
radial streets are interconnected by
providing a grid pattern.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
5. Hexagonal Pattern

• In this, the entire area is divided into

hexagonal patterns.
• Three roads meet the built-up area
boundary by the sides of the hexagons at
every corner of the hexagon which can be
further divided into suitable sizes.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
6. Minimum Travel Pattern

• In this, the city centre is connected with suburban centres and neighbour centres with
the shortest roads.
• To make the road short; road alignment is made straight.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey
PLANNING SURVEY
For assessing the required road length for the area field studies are
conducted to collect the necessary data.
These are the following:
❏ Economic studies
❏ Financial studies
❏ Traffic or road use studies
❏ Engineering studies
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

• ECONOMIC STUDIES
❏ Population and its distribution in each village, town or other locality with the
area classified in groups.
❏ Trend of Population growth
❏ Agricultural and industrial products and their listing in classified groups area
wise.
❏ Industrial and agricultural development and future trends.
❏ Existing facilities with regard to communication, recreation, and education.
❏ Per capita income.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

• FINANCIAL STUDIES
❏ Sources of income and estimated revenue from taxation on road
transport.
❏ Living standards
❏ Resources at local level, toll taxes, vehicle registration and fines.
❏ Future trends in financial aspects.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

• TRAFFIC OR ROAD USE STUDIES

❏ Traffic volume in vehicles per day, annual average daily traffic, peak and
design hourly traffic volume.
❏ Origin and traffic destinations.
❏ Traffic flow pattern
❏ Mass transportation facilities.
❏ Accidents, their cost analysis and causes
❏ Future trend growth in traffic; trend traffic pattern
❏ Growth and of passenger trips and the trend in the choice of modes.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

• ENGINEERING STUDIES
❏ Topographic surveys
❏ Soil surveys
❏ Location and classification of existing roads
❏ Estimation of possible developments in all aspects due to the proposed
highway development.
❏ Road life studies
❏ Traffic-studies-origin and destination studies.
❏ Special problems in drainage, construction and maintenance of roads.
Classification of Roads, Road Patterns, and Planning Survey

Interpretation of Planning Surveys

The data collected could be interpreted and used for the following major purposes:
❖ Comparison of the areas may be obtained on the basis of their economic
activities. This information may therefore suggest the areas of immediate need
for road network.
❖ On statistical basis, the data obtained in fact finding surveys may be analyzed for
future trends in the development of an area i.e., growth in productivity and
population which in turn generate traffic volume. This information may be useful
in the future planning.
References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_highway_network

"Department of Public Works and Highways Atlas 2019". Department of Public

Works and Highways. Retrieved December 30, 2020.

"Brief History of National Roads in the Philippines" (PDF). Department of Public

Works and Highways. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

Republic Act No. 917 (June 20, 1953), Philippine Highway Act of 1953, retrieved
February 20, 2017

https://dreamcivil.com/road-pattern/

Planning Survey, Preparation of Plans and Interpretation of Planning Surveys:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB6DPhKR4QE