DESIGN CONSIDERATION FOR

RURAL AND URBAN ROADS

BY :
LOKESH GUPTA
2
nd
SEM M.E
(HIGHWAY ENGG)
RURAL ROADS
The rural roads are the basic infrastructures required for the
development of rural areas. Rural roads have been planned
under various rural road development programmes of the
government.

Many of the technical aspects of road making were never
given due consideration in rural roads eg:adequate compaction
of subgrade, drainage and host of others.
Design consideration of rural roads:
The alignment should be as direct as possible so that there is
maximum economy in cost of construction, maintainance and
transportation.

The grades, curvatures and profiles should be so designed as to
be economical, consistent with the service requirements.

While improving the existing alignment, the endeavor should
be to utilise the existing facility as much as possible.
Contd..
The alignment should not interfere any stage with services
like, power transmission, water supply etc.

To the extent possible, the alignment susceptible to
subsidence, marshy and low lying areas prone to flooding,
inundation to erosion should be avoided.

While connecting population centres, the alignment should
preferably skirt/bypass the population pockets rather than the
pass through the congested areas.

Classification of Non-Urban Roads

(I) National Highways
(II) State Highways
(III) Major District Roads
IV) Other District Roads
(V) Village Roads
Defintions:

National Highways are main roads running through the length
and breadth of the country connecting major ports, foreign
highways, State capitals, large industrial and tourist centres
etc.

State Highways are arterial routes of a State linking district
headquarter and important cities within the State and
connecting them with National Highways or highways of the
neighbouring States.
Contd
Major District Roads are important roads within a district
serving areas of production and markets and connecting these
with each other or with the main highways.

Other District Roads are roads serving rural areas of
production and providing them with outlet to market centres,
taluk headquarters or other main roads.

Village Roads are roads connecting villages or groups of
villages with each other and to the nearest road of a higher
category.

Design of Rural Roads:
The overall design of geometrics of any Road is a function of the
design speeds.

The design speed is a main factor on which geometric design element
depends namely the sight distances, radius of horizontal curve, super
elevation, extra widening of pavement, length of transition curve and
the length of the summit and valley curve are all dependent on design
speed.

The design speeds of the roads depends upon
1. Class of the road
2. Terrain.

The speed standards of a particular class of the roads thus depends on
the classification of the terrain through which it passes.
TERRAIN CLASSIFICATION

The geometric design of any road is influenced significantly
by terrain conditions. Economy dictates choice of different
standards for different types of terrain.

1. Plain : 010 %
2. Ruling : 1025 %
3. Mountainous : 2560 %
4.Steep :Greater than 60 %
Design Speeds On (Non Urban) Rural Roads
Urban roads:
The road system within urban areas are classified as urban roads
and will form a separate category of roads to be taken care by
the respective urban authorities.

The appropriate design criteria for a specific road largely depend
on a set of economic indicators, namely costs of construction
and operation on one side, and the financial benefits to the
community on another. These are strategic parameters that
influence a decision to build an urban road.
CLASSIFICATION OF URBAN ROADS
For the purpose of geometric design, urban
roads are classified into four main categories.

(I) Arterial
(II) Sub-arterial
(III) Collector Street
(IV) Local Street
Defintions:
(I) Arterial : A street primarily for through traffic, usually on a continuous
route.

(ii) Sub-arterial : A street for through traffic usually on a continuous route
but offering somewhat lower level of traffic mobility than the arterial.

(iii) Collector Street : A street for collecting and distributing traffic from
and to local streets and also for providing access to arterial streets.

(iv) Local Street : A street for access to residence, business or other
abutting property.
Design Considerations Of Urban
Roads

Provide safe, short and fast thoroughfare and access to all road
users.

Clearly convey the primary function to road users and encourage
appropriate driver behavior.

Deliver traffic volumes at speeds compatible with function.

Provide convenient location for services.

Provide an opportunity for landscaping.


Contd
Allow for parking, where appropriate.

Have due regard to topography, geology, climate, environment
and heritage of the site.

Provide low cost of ownership.

Noise and fume pollution is a problem in urban areas and the
cross-section should provide for remedial measures such as
noise barriers, and adequate distance should be kept between
busy routes and populated areas.



Contd
While designing Urban Roads, travel desire lines of people by
various modes of transportation, the access needs of adjacent
land, network pattern and existing and proposed land-use
should be taken in to consideration.

Other factors like type of traffic, effect on environment,
drainage and maintenance must also be given prime
consideration.

Arterials should be designed for least stoppages.





Contd
Design should also take care of drainage, erosion control,
space for services and for erecting signs, lighting posts, etc.

Consideration should also be given to see that the road and its
structures blend with the environment and produce a pleasing
appearance.



DESIGN SPEEDS
Classification Design Speed (km/hr)

Arterial : 80 KMPH
Sub-arterial : 60 KMPH
Collector street : 50 KMPH
Local street : 30 KMPH

RECOMMENDED LAND WIDTHS FOR
ROADS IN URBAN AREAS


Arterial : 5060 M
Sub-arterial : 3040 M
Collector Street : 2030 M
Local street : 1020 M
Freeways:
It is a class of highways with superior facilities and design
standards and are meant as through routes having very high
volume of traffic.

These are designed for high design speed usually 120kmph
and are meant to cater for a high volume of traffic.
Advantages of Freeways:
a) Driver is free to select the speed based on individual choice and
design features. Operating speeds at or greater than 100kmph.

b) Service rate in one direction not exceeding 75% of the capacity.

c) Very high volume of traffic, high level of safety and efficiency.

d) Local traffic and service to the abutting properties are absent.

e) Provided with divided carriageways, controlled access, grade
separations at cross roads and fencing for improved safety,
preservation of volume and higher speeds.


References:
IRC 73: 1980 Design Standards for Rural ( Non Urban )
Highways.

IRC 86:1988 Geometric Design for Urban Roads in Plains

IRC SP 73-2007 Guidelines for the design of Flexible
Pavements for Rural Roads.




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Thank You.