Highway

Development and
Planning
Group 2 – BSCE2A
 Contents of This Chapter

01 Definition of Highway Development and Planning

02 Importance of Highway Development and Planning
03 Classification of Roads
04 Road Patterns
05 Planning Surveys
06 Highway Alignment
07 Highway Alignment and Engineering Survey
08 Requirements of Highway Alignment
09 Factors Controlling Highway Alignment
10 Engineering Survey and its stages
Definition of Highway
Development and
Planning
 Definition of Highway Development and Planning

Highway development and planning

refer to the systematic process of
designing, constructing,
maintaining, and managing road
networks, particularly highways or
major roadways, to ensure safe,
efficient, and sustainable
transportation.
Importance of Highway
Development and
Planning
Importance of Highway Development and Planning

Economic Growth and Connectivity:

Highways serve as vital transportation arteries,
connecting regions, cities, and rural areas. Well-planned
highway networks facilitate the movement of goods and
people, fostering economic growth.

Quality of Life and Accessibility:

Highway development improves the quality
of life for residents by providing easier access to
essential services, such as healthcare, education, and
emergency services.

Emergency Response and Disaster Management:

Highways are crucial for emergency response
and disaster management. They provide rapid access for
emergency services, including police, fire departments, and
medical personnel.
Classification of Roads
Classification of Roads

Primary Roads or Highways

● These are the major
roadways that connect
major cities and regions
within a country.

● They are designed for

high-speed traffic,
typically with multiple
lanes

● Example is Roxas Blvd.

Classification of Roads

Secondary Roads
● These roads serve as
connectors between
primary roads and
provide access to smaller
towns and rural areas.

● They may have fewer

lanes and a lower speed
limit compared to
highways.

● Example is Borongan-
Guiuan Rd
Classification of Roads

Tertiary Roads
● Tertiary roads are smaller
roads that connect
villages, farms, and rural
areas to secondary and
primary roads.

● They are often narrow

and may lack significant
pavement or structural
features.
Classification of Roads

Expressways
● Expressways are high-
speed roads with
controlled access,
including on-ramps, off-
ramps, and limited points
of entry and exit.

● They are often divided by

medians and are designed
for fast, efficient
transportation between
cities.
Classification of Roads

Expressways
● In some regions,
expressways may be
called freeways or
motorways.

● Example of expressway is
North Luzon Expressway
(NLEX).
Road Patterns
Road Pattern

A road pattern, also known as a road

network pattern or road layout,
refers to the arrangement or
configuration of roads within a city,
town, or region.
 Road Patterns

It is the spatial organization of streets,

highways, and other transportation routes
that make up the road network. The road
pattern has a significant impact on urban
planning, transportation efficiency,
accessibility, and the overall functionality of
an area.
Rectangular or Block Pattern
The rectangular/ block/ grid pattern is a
plan where the streets and roads are in the
form of grids or blocks running
perpendicularly into each other thus
forming a grid or block. Usually the main
road is wide which passes through the
center of the area and other roads
connecting to it are narrow.
 Radial Patterns

In this road pattern, the network of

roadways is constructed in the shape of a
circle that radiates away from the center of
the area.

This pattern is divided into three types

based on its layout
Radial or Star & Block Pattern

This type of road network combines radial

and block road patterns. The whole area is
arranged into a block-pattern road network
that runs between the radial main streets
and radiates outward from the center.
 Radial or Star & Circular Pattern

It is a road pattern in which the major

roadways, or radial roads, radiate outward
from the center and are joined by the ring
roads, or concentric roads, which likewise
radiate outward.
Radial or Star & Grid Pattern

This kind of road network combines radial

and grid patterns. From the center, a radial
network of roads radiates outward. The
grid pattern is then used to interconnect the
main radial streets.
 Hexagonal Road Pattern

In this pattern, the entire area is provided

with a network of roads formatting
hexagonal figures. At each corner of the
hexagon, three roads meet the built-up area
boundary by the sides of the hexagons and
are further divided in suitable sizes
Grid Pattern
A network of intersecting parallel lines,
real or imaginary, is referred to as a grid.
When seen from above, this pattern is
made up of streets that connect at right
angles to form squares. A physical network
not always constructed of straight or
parallel lines may also be called a grid
Planning Surveys
 Planning Surveys

A highway should be planned according to

the volume of daily traffic flow from a
particular path. For this purpose proper
survey must be done to collect the adequate
amount of data.
The highways should be safe and secure.
The planning must have a forecast for the
next several years in order to plan fixed
periods for maintenance, renewal and
widening as well.
Different Types of Highway Planning Surveys

Map Study:
Map study shows the various topographical features like rivers, hills, and
valleys. With the proper map study at the office, it is possible to obtain the basic
details to fix the alignment of roads. Possible alignment can be fixed based on the
following details available on the map

Reconnaissance Survey
The reconnaissance survey is an extensive study of an entire area that
might be used for a road or airfield. The purpose of reconnaissance survey is to
eliminate those routes or sites which are impractical or unfeasible and to identify the
more promising routes or sites.

Preliminary Survey
Preliminary survey is a type of survey in which adequate data is collected
to prepare a plan/map of the area to be used for planning and design.
Different Types of Highway Planning Surveys

Location Survey:
The detailed examination of the field along the alignment finally
recommended during the preliminary survey is called location survey.

Engineering Surveys for Highway Location

Traffic Survey:
The detailed information of traffic is much necessary so as to design the
road pavement, fixing the number of traffic lanes, geometric design of roads and other
economical aspects.
Traffic surveys are started from simple traffic counts to detail of traffic
nature and transportation studies. Various studies like speed studies, traffic volume
studies, delays, journey time are more essential to carry out for the purpose of road
design and also improvement of existing road networks.
Different Types of Highway Planning Surveys

Engineering Surveys for Highway Location

Soil and Material Survey:
Detailed information on various classifications of soils is collected and
various field tests and laboratory tests are being carried out for the purpose of their
suitability for embankments..
Materials such as road aggregates, bitumen, tar cement concrete, and any
other required for the construction of the road. Hence material survey is also carried
out in which its suitability, durability, availability has prime importance and various
laboratory test on-road materials are also being carried out.

Drainage:
Drainage surveys are required mainly for the purpose of design of cross
drainage structure and survey on drainage is quite useful in fixing the gradient or
grade line of the road. Information about high flood level (HFL), depth of water table,
rainfall intensity, etc. is being collected. Proper drainage surveys are helpful in the
good design of the surface drainage system
Different Types of Highway Planning Surveys

Engineering Surveys for Highway Location

Topographic Survey
Topographic surveys are type of highway planning surveys which consist
of determining the horizontal and vertical locations of objects on the surface of the
earth. Topographic surveys show the nature of the ground or profile of ground which
is the most essential part for proper road alignment.
Highway Alignment and Engineering
Survey
Introduction:

The position of the highway in the

ground is called highway
alignment.
 REQUIREMENTS OF HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT
SAFE EASY SHORT ECONOMICAL COMFORT
 07-FACTORS
CONTROLLING
HIGHWAY ALIGNMENT
Governmental Requirement – The government should be clear about the
requirement of the road (when, what, how and why to construct).

Traffic (Type, amount and flow pattern) – The alignment should be according to the
traffic amount and flow pattern.

Geological Condition – Geologically stable hill slope must be considered while

selecting the highway alignment.

Availability of construction materials and labor – The construction works become

easier and economical when the construction materials are near the place of highway
alignment.

Economy – The construction, operation and maintenance work should be economical.

OBLIGATORY POINTS
POSITIVE OBLIGATORY POINTS

a. Existing Road
b. Intermediate Town
c. Bridge site/Existing Bridge
d. Mountain

NEGATIVE OBLIGATORY POINTS

a. Valleys, ponds and marshy lands

b. Religious places
c. Costly structures
d. Conservation areas and restricted zones
e. Densely populated areas
f. boundaries
Engineering Surveys and
Its stages
1. MAP STUDY

- from the map,

alternative routes can be
suggested in the office, if the
topographic map of that area
is available.
2. RECONNAISANCE SURVEY

- To confirm features
indicated on map
2. PRELIMINARY SURVEY
4. FINAL LOCATION AND
DETAILED SURVEY

- the alignment at the

design office after the preliminary
survey is to be first located on the
field by establishing the
centerline.