Highway Surveys and Location

Chapter 14 Part 2
Roadway Design
15FCVE211
Summer 2017
Dr Taha Ahmed
Highway Earthwork and Final Plans
Final element in the locations process is to
establish the horizontal and vertical
alignments of the highway project
Elements of the final process
Highway grades and terrain
Earthwork Volumes
Ordinates of mass Diagram
Overhaul payments
Preparation of highway plans
 Highway Grades and Terrain
Terrain of the land is most significant in the
selection of highway location
Primary factor when considering grade line is
the amount of earthwork involved.
Selecting grade line as close to natural ground
level will reduce requirements
Grade line is dictated by expected floodwater
level
Computing Earthwork Volumes
With a certain grade line chosen there is a
certain amount of earthwork involved.
The amount of earthwork involved is
determined by taking cross sections 15-20 m
apart.
Types of Cross Sections
Example: Computing Fill and Cut Volumes Using
Average End-Area Method

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Example: Computing Fill and Cut Volumes Using
Average End-Area Method
Computing Fill and Cut Volumes Using Average End-
Area Method
 Computing Ordinates of the Mass
Diagram
Mass Diagram is a series of connected lines
that depicts the net accumulation of cut or
fill between any two stations

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Computing Ordinates of the Mass
Diagram

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Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram
Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram

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Computing Ordinates of the Mass Diagram
 Computing Overhaul Payments

Contractors are compensated for the cost of

earthmoving.
Free Haul
The contract price will include a stipulated
maximum distance that earth will be moved.
Overhaul
If the contract distance is exceeded than the
contract stipulates a unit price add-on
 Preparation of Highway Plans

After final location is determined designers

need to provide plans and specifications for
the facility.
Instructions under which the highway is
constructed
Includes preparation of engineers estimates and
contractors bids
Plans provide all the details necessary for proper
construction
Preparation of Highway Plans
 Summary

The selection of a suitable highway location

requires information obtained from highway
surveys
Ground methods
Electronic equipment/computers
Four phases of highway location process
Computation of earthwork