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Introduction
Terrain Classification

Hill Roads

Type of terrain

Cross slope in %

Level (L)
Rolling (R)

0~9.9
10~24.9

Mountainous (M)
Steep (S)

Hill Roads

road passes through the area cross slope

of 25% or more.

definition based only on the ground

condition is not precise
should take into account of overall
terrain

Above 60

Hill Roads

more problems in

25~60

alignment
Design
Layout
construction and maintenance
more costly to construct
prone to accidents

More important in Nepal

Design and Construction Problem

highly broken relief with widely
differing elevations, steep slopes,
deep gorges and a great number
of watercourses
unnecessary increase in length of
road.

Design and Construction Problem

Great variation in geological condition
Slope unstable after road
construction
Great variation in hydrological
condition

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Design and Construction Problem

Design and Construction Problem

installation of various road structures

relatively small stretches. No

approaches

High speed of runoff

Filling overload the weak underlying

soil which trigger new slides.

Need of special safety precautions

Variations of the climatic condition

Frequent blasting

Design of hairpin bends to get heights.

Special consideration in hill roads

Selection of road alignment

Geometric design (gradient and

hair pin bends)

Cross section design

Design of drainage structures

Temperature
Air temperature lower

Alignment of hill roads

select shortest economical and safer
roads
Need of frequent blasting and
construction of retaining structures
E/W 12~60 thousand cum/km
Higher cost
Different climatic conditions

Temperature

Slope facing south and south east

solar heat received

varies with orientation

unequal warming
sharp temperature variations and
erosion by water
greatest destruction

more favourable for locating roads

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Rainfall

more elevation more rainfall

maximum rainfall

zone of intensive cloud formation

(1500~2500m above mean sea level)
40~60mm increase in rainfall for every
1000m of elevation

in summer very heavy rainfall

serious effect on construction and

maintenance

Atmospheric pressure
decreases with elevations
high altitudes (3000~4000m)

wind velocities 25~30m/s

freezing temperatures
depth of frost penetration 1.5~2.0m

intensive weathering of rock

wind contribute to damage of low
cost pavements

Geological conditions

horizontal / vertical stratification

degree of stability depends on

type of rock
degree of strata inclination
hardness of rock
presence of ground water.

Should follow stable slope with

no ground water

Route location
Longer routes with many
curves
Sharp radius of curves
River and ridge route

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Numerous horizontal curves

River route
along

river valley
frequent case
comparatively gentle gradient
Serves rural settlement
Low vehicle operating cost,
availability of water and other
construction materials
Most

Construction of large no. of cross

drainage structures
steep sloping hill side may be
insufficiently stable

Extensive E/W
Construction of special retaining and
protection of walls on the hill sides

Some important considerations

Massive river training

and protection works on
the river side

Road

bed located sufficiently

above and away from maximum
water level

When

near to water course

embankment slope adequately
protected and stabilized.

Ridge route

Very steep gradient

large no. of sharp curves including

hair pin bends

Extensive rock works

Construction of special structures

Necessity of long length

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Alignment survey
Map

study and reconnaissance

Trace

cut and preliminary

survey

detailed

survey

Geometric Design of Hill Road

requirements are different

complexity of the terrain

high altitude factors

other problems in design and
construction

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Gradient
Selected close to maximum to reduce the
road length and E/W
Power of vehicle decreases with the altitude

Altitude (m)

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

Engine power reduction (%)

11.3

21.5

30.8

39.2

46.7

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Gradient
Reduction in power output
changes in atmospheric pressure,
temperature and air density.

Dynamic factorspeed chart

High altitude factors

reduced density of air
low atmospheric pressure
low boiling point of water,
variation in wind pressure

Vehicle performance study

Gradient
Steep gradient
reduction in earthwork and length
of road
increased fuel consumption and
reduction in operating speed.

steeper gradient
fuel consumption is higher
the distribution of the load on the
vehicle axles is unequal
overloading and excessive wear of
tires and the vehicle.

Lower atmospheric pressure low

water boiling point abnormal
engine cooling conditions

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Hair pin bends

Design speed

20 kmph

Minimum radius of main curve

14m

Maximum length of transition curve

15m

Maximum gradient within bend

2.5%

Super elevation in curve portion

10%

Widening of carriageway

4m

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Typical cross section of hill roads

Various configuration includes

Cut and fill

Cut and fill

Bench type
Box cutting
Embankment with retaining walls
Semi bridge
Semi tunnel
Platforms

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Special structures in hill roads

To retain soil mass
to increase stability of road
embankment slopes as well as natural
hill slopes
to accommodate road bed in steep
slope

Special structures in hill roads

To dissipate energy

river training and erosion control

to prevent bed scour, under cutting and toe cutting
Integration of bio engineering with engineering
structures

Classification
Classification may be based on
materials used
structural scheme
location with respect to the
roadway

Dry stone masonry

stone filled gabion wire crates
stone masonry with cement sand mortar
composite (dry stone masonry filled in cement
sand stone masonry frame)
plain cement concrete
reinforced cement concrete
steel or timber

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Classification
Hill side/valley side retaining walls
toe walls
Revetment walls
also known as breast walls

Classification
Gravity walls
semi gravity walls
cantilever walls
counterfort walls
buttresses walls
crib walls
reinforced soil walls

Retaining Structures
Stability analysis of the wall from structural
strength of each component or section of wall
proportioning
preliminary dimensioning
determining thickness of wall

checking against overturning, sliding

etc.

Retaining Structures

Design procedure
Collect the general information

The stability of foundation soil:

overstressing condition
toe pressure
hill pressure
bearing pressure of soil foundation

topographical and physical surveys, controlling

dimensions

Analyze the sub soil condition

soil profile

Establish surcharge loads

highway, railway, building and other services

Select the type and tentative surcharge pressure

Analyze the structural stability

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Design procedure

Retaining Walls

Analyze the foundation stability

Design structural elements
Select drainage in backfill
Predict settlement and movement of wall

Steep and Unstable Slope

Side Drain

Wheel Guard

Carriageway

Revetment Wall

Fill

Stepping

Toe Wall

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