Highway Planning

Highway planning is of great importance when the funds available are limited, whereas the total requirement is much higher.

The objective of highway planning are as follows:-

1. To plan the overall network of roads efficiently at minimum cost.
2. To divide the overall plan into phases to decide the priorities.
3. To plan the future requirement and improvement of roads.

Classification of Roads

• Roads are classified on the basis follow as:-

1. On the basis of duration of their use.
2. All weather roads 
   -paved and unpaved roads.
3. Fair weather roads
   -surface and non surfaced roads.
4. On the basis of traffic volume.
5. On the basis of load transferred.
6. On the basis of location and function.

• National highway
• State highway
• Major district roads
• Ordinary district roads
• There are main highways running through the length & width of the country connecting major portions,foreign highways,capital of large state and large industrial areas,tourist destinations,places of strategic importance (DEFENSE).
• State highways are arterial roads of state connecting the national highways of adjacent state,district & important cities.
• MDR are important roads within a district serving area production, market & connecting with their major roads and state highways.
• ODR are the seeds serving rural areas of production & providing them the outlet to the market.
• VR are roads connecting villages or groups of villages each ODRs.
• NOTE-Urban roads are also classified as follows

1. Arterial Roads
2. Sub -Arterial Roads
3. Collector street
4. Local street

• Type of Road pattern

1. Rectangular or Block
2. Hexagonal
3. Radial or Star & Block
4. Radial or Star & Circular
5. Radial or Star & Grid