Route Selection
Two of the most important considerations in selecting the route for a proposed highway are:
1) the physical features of the area and
2) how these features relate to the geometric design controls.
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UKZN – INSPIRING GREATNESS
Primary Principles of Route Location
• Connect two points with shortest distance
• Traverse through favorable topography
• Avoid areas where land cost is high
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Secondary Principles of Route Location
• Cross river perpendicularly
• Avoid crossing railway lines at grade
• Traverse through edges of properties, avoid splitting community
• Far from sites such as cemetery, places of worship, hospital and etc.
• Avoid deep cuttings and tunnels
• Avoid areas with shallow rocks
• Consider the availability of construction materials of road building
• Special attention to possible occurrence of landslides or slope failure at
mountainous areas
• Higher ground and avoid areas prone to flooding
• Cutting and filling is minimized and balanced
• Consider traffic safety especially at Intersections
• Consider the presence of underground utilities (water pipes, electricity
cables, telecommunication lines) to cater for future development
• Should not pass through ecologically or environmentally sensitive areas
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UKZN – INSPIRING GREATNESS
Route Location Process
1. Office study of existing information
2. Reconnaissance survey
3. Preliminary location survey
4. Final location survey
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Office study of existing information
Examined all relevant data pertaining to the project
Type and amount of data depends on road hierarchy in general collect
data on;
• Engineering (topography, geology, climate & traffic)
• Social and demographic (land use & zoning pattern)
• Environmental (wildlife, historic and archaeological sites, recreation and
open space, air, noise water pollution possible effects etc)
• Economic
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Reconnaissance survey
Identify several feasible routes taking into consideration:
• Terrain and soil condition
• Serviceability
• Crossing of other facilities
• Directness
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Surveys and Maps
• Many different types of maps are produced in the course of
designing a highway. The most common include:
• Location or Vicinity Maps present the highway location in relation
to surrounding physical features.
• Topographic Maps illustrate elevation with the use of contour lines
and spot elevations.
• Planimetric Maps show features such as roads, buildings, water,
fences, vegetation, bridges, railroads.
• Detail Base Maps, generally produced at scales ranging from 1:200
to 1:1000
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Topography
A topographic map tells you where things are and how to get to them.
It describes the shape of the land, defines and locates natural and manmade
features like woodlands, waterways, important buildings, and bridges.
It shows the distance between any two places, and they also show the
direction from one point to another.
The topography is shown by contours. Contours make it possible to measure
the height of mountains, depths of the ocean bottom, and steepness of slopes.
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Topography
• A topographical map is a representation of the Earth, or part of
it. Traditionally, maps have been printed on paper. When a printed
map is scanned, the computer file that is created may be called a
digital raster graphic.
• The distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is that the shape
of the Earth's surface is shown by contour lines.
• A topographic map includes symbols that represent such features as
streets, buildings, streams, and woods. These symbols are
constantly refined to better relate to the features they represent,
improve the appearance or readability of the map, or to reduce
production cost.
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Topography
Flat terrains – the natural ground, cross slopes ~ below 3%
Rolling terrains – natural slopes consistently rise above and fall
below the road or street grade. Natural ground cross slopes between
3% - 25%
Mountainous terrain – natural ground cross slopes are generally
above 25%
Aerial surveys expedite the collection of these data.
Topography maps scale – 1:1000 or 1:500 to show particular details
Further data – subsurface and drainage conditions, the value of land,
size, type and value of buildings, planning for the improvement of
the area and other information that may affect or be affected by the
road
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Contour
A contour line is a
line that passes
through points
having the same
elevation.
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Contours are Continuous
• Some contour lines may close
within the map, but others will
not.
• In this case, they will start at a
boundary line and end at a
boundary line.
• Contours must either close or
extend from boundary to
boundary.
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UKZN – INSPIRING GREATNESS
UKZN – INSPIRING GREATNESS
Characteristics of contour lines
1. Contour lines are continuous.
2. Contour lines are relatively parallel unless one of two
conditions exists.
3. A series of V-shape indicates a valley and the V’s point to
higher elevation.
4. A series U shape indicates a ridge. The U shapes will point
to lower elevation.
5. Evenly spaced lines indicate an area of uniform slope.
6. A series of closed contours with increasing elevation
indicates a hill and a series of closed contours with
decreasing elevation indicates a depression.
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7. Closed contours may be identified with a +, hill, or -,
depression.
8. Closed contours may include hachure marks. Hachures are
short lines perpendicular to the contour line. They point to
lower elevation.
9. The distance between contour lines indicates the steepness
of the slope. The greater the distance between two contours
the less the slope. The opposite is also true.
10. Contours are perpendicular to the maximum slope.
11. A different type of line should be used for contours of
major elevations. For example at 100, 50 and 10 foot
intervals. Common practice is to identify the major
elevations lines, or every fifth line, with a bolder, wider,
line.
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Contours
Contour lines are a method of depicting the 3-dimensional character of
the terrain on a 2-dimensional map. Contour lines drawn on the map
represent equal points of height above sea level.
• Steep slopes - contours are closely spaced
• Gentle slopes - contours are less closely spaced
• Valleys - contours form a V-shape pointing up the hill - these V's
are always an indication of a drainage path which could also be a
stream or river.
• Ridges - contours form a V-shape pointing down the hill
• Summits - contours forming circles
• Depressions - are indicated by circular contour with lines radiating
to the center
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UKZN – INSPIRING GREATNESS
Valleys and higher elevation
A series of V-shapes
indicates a valley and
the V’s point to higher
elevation.
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U shapes and ridge
A series of U shapes
indicates a ridge.
The U shapes will point
to lower elevation.
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Contour Spacing
Evenly spaced contours
indicate an area of
uniform slope.
Unevenly spaced contours
indicates an area with
variable slope.
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Hills and Depressions
A series of closed contours
with increasing elevation
indicates a hill.
Hills may be identified with
a “+” with the elevations
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Hills and Depressions--cont.
A series of closed
contours with
decreasing elevation
indicates a depression.
Depressions may be
identified with a “-”.
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Contour Spacing
• Contours spaced close
together indicate a
higher % slope.
• Contours spaced wider
apart indicate lower %
slope.
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Contour Spacing
Contours are
perpendicular to
maximum slope.
Different types
of lines should
be used for
contours of
major
elevations.
Common
practice is to
identify the
major elevations
lines, or every
fifth line, with a
bolder, wider,
line.
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UKZN – INSPIRING GREATNESS
Route Selection considerations
Physical features that affect route selection include topography,
ground (soil) conditions, and surrounding land use. Any possible
environmental impacts posed by construction of a new highway must
also be considered. The most appropriate location, alignment, and
shape of a highway are selected during the design stage. Some of these
design considerations include:
• Design speed
• Design traffic volume
• Number of lanes
• Level of Service
• Sight Distance
• Alignment, super-elevation, and grades
• Cross section
• Lane width
• Horizontal and vertical clearance
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UKZN – INSPIRING GREATNESS
