In this blog We Know About Step by Step Process of Road Construction a Comprehensive Manual. Road construction is therefore a complex
Detailed one that involves the determination of the various features of the roads as well planning, designing, consulting engineers, contractors, costs and construction techniques to be employed, recession, and attention to detail at every stage.
Read Also:- Which Company is Best for Road Construction?
Concerning the construction of highways, urban roads or project roads, road construction method and process are generally
Similar, according to certain stages that would guarantee efficiency, solidity and without risks. The steps discussed in this practical complete journey of road construction.
1. Planning and Design: Road Construction Process
The process in road construction includes planning and designing of a given road construction project
a critical component that forms the base of any typical project. Depending on the design standard, budget, and traffic demand this stage guarantee that road meets required safety standards.
Feasibility Study determines whether the road project is viable, considering(Process of Road Construction):
- Traffic Forecasting: Future traffic loads, which are the most important factor in shaping the usage intensity of a given infrastructure object.
- Economic Impact: Comparing the importance of the road, for example shorter distances to travel against the cost of building it and the expenses to maintain.
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Unfortunately, it is still common to analyze possible effects on ecosystems, water bodies, and communities.
Example
Stakeholders of the Yamuna Expressway in India demanded feasibility study in an effort to gain acknowledgement of the role of the highway in cutting down the time taken to travel between Delhi and Agra thus boosting the business and tourism in the area.
Route Selection
After a feasibility study, engineers then choose the most workable path for construction. They apply professional equipment like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to circumnavigate such barriers as river or forest so that the distance is economical and interferences minimal.
Road Design
After that come road design to which the engineers pay their attention. They are number of lanes, width of the road, type of pavement and drainage facilities. Critical design factors include:
- Gradient: Controlling of slope for safety on roads.
- Curve Radius: Promoting safety in handling of vehicles when taking turns around curves.
- Drainage: To avoid water building on the area to safeguard the surface of the roads.
Example
Among European countries, Germany has the most accurate autobahn design where most features such as gradient and curve radius are well done to favor high coefficient speed.
2. Tendering Process and Required Land/Biodiversity Clearances
The next part of the road construction process includes the acquisition of the land and legal demises, should take a certain amount of time according to the specificity of the project.
Land Acquisition
Governments require acquiring the private land for constructing roads sometimes. The owners of the land are paid for their land and some time it takes time to process this because of some discrepancies.
Example:
The Nairobi-Mombasa Highway project in Kenya has had a problem, primarily in the process of the acquisition of the right of way because the locals demanded more money.
Licenses
Multiple permits are required before construction begins, including:
- Environmental Clearance: The maintenance of environmental legal compliance.
- Construction Permits: The last conceptualization is getting the green signal for beginning the construction.
- Utility Clearances: Co-ordination of legal obligations to either safeguard or shift overhead wires and cables such as power lines, water mains and/or gas mains.
3. Site Preparation: In the course of developing the land
the first activity is removal of vegetation, stones and other useful materials from the land which is known as clearing of land.
From the cleared land, soil is removed to a required level and new soil added to it in large quantities which is known as grading of the land.
As soon as legal possibilities are obtain, physical work on the road construction process starts by preparing the site.
Clearing and Grubbing
This phase entails removal of trees, shrubs, rocks and other forms of debris on the construction site by using Bulldozers and other construction equipment. This makes a certain that the site is appropriate for building construction.
Earthworks
The next process after clearing is the act of leveling that takes place through cut-and-fill systems. High grounds are bulldozed and low grounds are built up to provide the appropriate plane upon which the road would be constructed.
4. Subgrade Construction: Building the Foundation
The subgrade represents the formation level of the road construction or pavement and the strength is crucial in roads construction.
Subgrade Preparation
This sub-grade material is packed by special equipment and render stability to support the layers on the construction road. When there is poor compaction, the following may be experience on the construction projects i.e., settlement of cracking.
Soil Stabilization
If the ground quality is poor, then interventions into the ground are done with cement or lime for a stronger material to then use.
Example
Specific example of work with weak subgrade was the construction of interstate highway No.405 in California
where weak subgrade problem was address by soil stabilization with a view to the long-term future performance on it.
5. Laying the Base Layers: Strengthening the Road
Lower layers provide the shape to the road bed and help distribute the loads that roads have to bear with regards to traffic.
Base Course Construction
Preparation of the subgrade is do first of all and then the base course is construct. It is make of subbase material like crush stones or gravel in which a road surface is well compact.
Example
The engineers who constructed the road network in the north circular road in London provided a leviable base course of stones to sustain the traffic density in business central regions.
6. Paving: Laying the Road Surface
The last process of road construction is the surface course by use of asphalt or concrete.
Asphalt Paving
Today the common type of roads is asphalt which is make from a combination of bitumen and gravel and sand. This material is suitable for all forms of roads because of some of their attributes
such as long lasting, flexibility and cheaper to apply.
Example
The highway present in America referral to famously as the route 66 was prove with tar to comfort long distance travelers.
Concrete Paving
The concrete is a bit costlier but it is apply on the active Bonaviage road networks or regions that experience certain weather conditions. It is also one of the toughest surfaces although it wears out quickly
therefore call for frequent tendering as opposed to concrete or asphalt roads.
Conclusion
It is important to note that road construction is a multistage process which aims at providing sufficient and quality roads to cope with the traffic requirements and necessities. Right from the consultancy of doing the feasibility study and designing of roads, acquisition of land, site preparation, surfacing
all these steps are very important in construction of roads as it helps in bridging and supports the economy of a nation. As the case of Yamuna Expressway and Autobahn illustrates, such infrastructural developments could not be conduct through conventional engineering. Whether it is the current interstate highway or the latest country route
there are events that must happen in laying down or constructing any road so that it can come into existence and survive the long years ahead.