BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b.

Shamshuddin

Introduction to Highway
Engineering

1
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

1.1 SCOPE OF HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

Engineering discipline branching from civil engineering

Involves the design, construction and maintenance of
highway systems.
Became prominent towards the latter half of the 20th Century
after World War 2.
Standards of highway engineering are continuously being
improved.
Highway engineers must take into account future traffic flows,
design of highway intersections/interchanges,
geometric alignment and design, highway pavement materials
and design, structural design of pavement thickness, and
pavement maintenance.
Most developed nations have extensive highway networks
 TRAFFIC FLOW
(Good level of service)
TRAFFIC FLOW (Congested)
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

INTERSECTION
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

INTERCHANGE
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

GEOMETRICAL DESIGN
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

HIGHWAY MATERIALS

SOIL
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

SAND
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

AGGREGATE
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

BITUMEN
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ASPHALT CONCRETE
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

THICKNESS DESIGN

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BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ASPHALT DISTRESS
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

1.2 HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION

ROAD ELEMENTS

A diagram showing the cross-sectional elements of a divided rural highway

BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD ELEMENTS

An actual divided rural highway

An actual divided rural highway

BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD ELEMENTS

TRAVEL LANE

Main elements of the roadway, as they provide the path for travel.
Influences the safety and comfort of driving.
On the local highway system, travel lane widths generally vary between:

• 2.5 m (R1/U1)
• 3.5 m (R5/U5/R6/U6) depending on functional classification,
traffic volumes, and project scope of work
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD ELEMENTS

MEDIAN

• Median is also known as the central reservation

• Median design depends on the functional class of the highway,
design speed, type of access management proposed,
availability of right-of-way, construction costs, maintenance considerations,
the anticipated ultimate development of the facility, operations
at crossroad intersections, and field conditions.
• The median width is measured from the inside edge of the two traveled ways
and includes inside shoulders and/or median curb and gutters.
• Median width varies from a minimum of 1.0 m (Type III urban street) to 18.0 m
(rural expressway).
• The principal functions of a median are to provide the desired freedom from
the interference of opposing traffic, to provide a recovery area for out-of-
control vehicles, to provide for speed changes, to provide storage of right
turning and U-turning vehicles, and to provide for future lanes.
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD ELEMENTS

SHOULDER

- The road shoulder is a reserved area by the verge of the road.

- It may be either paved (HMA or concrete) or unpaved (aggregate or turf).
- Shoulder width varies from a minimum of 1.5 m to 3.0 m, depending on the
road standard and type of terrain.
- For roads on difficult terrain and low volumes, a minimum of 0.6 m can be
considered.
- The functions of road shoulder include:
• provide structural support for the traveled way
• provide support for guardrail and prevents erosion around guardrail posts
• prevent or minimize pavement edge drop-offs
• provide space for emergency and discretionary stop
• improve roadside safety by providing more recovery area for run-off-the-
road vehicles
• facilitate maintenance operations
• facilitate pavement drainage
• provide space for pedestrian and bicycle use
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD ELEMENTS

CLEAR ZONE

- Clear zone is defined as the total roadside border area, starting at the
edge of the traveled way, available for safe use by errant vehicles.

- Simply stated, it is an unobstructed, relatively flat area beyond the edge

of the traveled way that allows a driver to stop safely or regain control of a
vehicle that leaves the traveled way.

- This area may consist of a shoulder, a recoverable slope, a non-recoverable slope,

and/or a clear run-out area.

- The desired minimum width is dependent upon traffic volumes and speeds and
on the roadside geometry.
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA

- Malay Peninsula started since the British Colonial.

- Tin mining and rubber industry
- The first road was built in Perak, linking Kamunting and Ujung Tembo.
- The construction then was extended to Pulau Pinang.
- Lembah Kinta – from Taiping to Ipoh in 1891.
- Currently, Peninsula Malaysia has about 847.7 kilometers of road linking
North Malaysia to South Malaysia.
- The total length of highway throughout Malaysia is about
1192 kilometers, including expressways such as NKVE, ELITE, KESAS
and BESRAYA.
- More highways are being constructed, the latest being the
East-Coast Highway, in order to make Malaysia one of countries in
Asia which has the best road systems, besides Japan and China.
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA

Green line

North – South Highway network map (source: PLUS)

BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

STANDARDS AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF ROADS

STANDARDISATION

Uniformity Consistency Guidance

BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

APPLICATION OF STANDARDS
Standard Description
R6 / U6 - highest geometric design standard
- serves long trips with high speeds, comfort and safety
- with divided carriageway
- full access control
- e.g. rural and urban expressways
R5 / U5 - high geometric design standard
- serves long to intermediate trips with high to medium speeds
- partial access control
- e.g. highways, primary roads and arterials
R4 / U4 - medium geometric standard
- serves intermediate trip lengths with medium speeds
- partial access control
- e.g. primary roads, secondary roads, minor arterials and
major collectors
R3 / U3 - low geometric standard
- serves mainly local traffic
- partial or no access control
- e.g. secondary roads, collectors and major local streets
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

APPLICATION OF STANDARDS

R2/ U2 - lowest geometric standard for two-way flow

- applied only to local traffic with low volumes of vehicles of
commercial traffic
- e.g. minor roads and local streets
R1 / U1 - very low geometric standard
- applied to very low traffic where the chances of two-way flow
is low
R1a applied to local access to restricted areas such as access to microwave
stations and security areas
U1a applied to local access to low cost housing areas
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD CLASSIFICATION

FUNCTION OF ROADS

Transportation Mobility
Accessibility
To transport people To move from one
To gain access
and goods place to another
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ROAD CLASSIFICATION

CATEGORIES
OF ROAD

Rural Roads Urban Roads

•Expressway
•Expressway
•Highway
•Arterial
•Primary Road
•Secondary Road •Collector
•Minor Road •Local street
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

RURAL ROAD

Expressways

• Divided interstate highways for through traffic

• Has full access control
• With grade separated intersections
• For fast traveling
• Serve long trips
• Provide higher traveling speed and comfort
• Designed to the highest standards
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

Highways

• Constitute the interstate national network

• Complement the expressway network
• Link up directly or indirectly the federal and state
Capitals, and points of entry/exit to the country
• Serve long to intermediate trips
• High to medium speed
• Smooth traffic is provided
• Partial access control
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

Primary Roads

• Constitute the major roads forming the basic

network within a state
• Serve intermediate trip lengths and medium
traveling speeds
• Smooth traffic is provided
• Partial access control
• Link up state and district capitals or other major
towns
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

Secondary Roads

• Constitute the major roads forming the basic

network within a district or regional development
areas
• Serve intermediate trips
• Partial access control
• Link up major towns within the district or regional
development areas
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

Minor Roads

• Apply to all roads other than those described

above
• Form the basic road network within a land scheme
or other inhabited areas
• Include roads with special functions such as
holiday resort roads, security roads or access
roads to microwave stations
• Serve local traffic with short trip lengths
• Partial or no access control
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

URBAN ROAD

Expressways

• Divided highways for through traffic

• Form the basic network in urbanized area
• Has full access control
• With grade separated intersections
• For fast traveling
• Serve long trips
• Provide higher traveling speed and comfort
• Designed to the highest standards
• Complement the rural expressways
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

Arterials

• Continuous roads with partial access control for

through traffic
• Convey traffic from residential areas to the vicinity
of the central business district, or from one part of
the city to another which does not intend to
penetrate identifiable neighbourhood
• Smooth traffic flow is essential since they carry
large traffic volumes
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

Collectors

• Roads with partial access control designed to

serve on a collector/distributor of traffic between
arterials and local road systems
• Major roads which penetrate and serve identifiable
neighbourhood, commercial areas and industrial
areas

Local Streets

• The basic network within a neighbourhood and

serves to offer direct access to abutting land
• Links to the collector roads and thus serve short
trip lengths
• Through traffic should be discouraged
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

Tolled Highway

Federal Road

Level of road State Road

Local Authority Road

Village/District road
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF ROADS

No Organization Task
1 Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Form and plan policies – economy
2 Highway Planning Unit (HPU) Planning of the development
3 Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) Focusing on the highways
Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia (LLM)
4 Public Work Department (JKR) Authority
5 Road Transport Department (JPJ) Road safety
6 Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Permit of commercial vehicle
(LPKP)
7 The Traffic Branch of State Police Enforcement of rules
8 Department of Town and Country Carry out planning of transportation
Planning (JPBD) system
9 Local Authorities (PBT) Plan and develop within the areas
10 Department of Environment (JAS) Control the environment
BFC 31802 Highway Engineering Lecturer: Mustafa Kamal b. Shamshuddin