Part I (A) Review of Geometric Design Standards for Rural Roads in Hill Areas

S. No. Item As per IRC:SP:20 (Rural Roads Manual) / Hill Road Manual IRC:SP:48 New Construction Amendments Recommended Existing Roads (Tolerances that can be accepted)

1.

Classification

(a) Other District Roads

Same system guidelines

as

defined

in

NRRDA Same system as defined in NRRDA guidelines

2.

Carriageway width

(b) Village Roads 3.75m but can be reduced to 3.00m Through Roads 3.75 m where traffic less than 100 motorised vehicles per day. Link Roads* 3.00 m
* If a link road carries traffic more than 100 motorised vehicles per day, the carriageway width will be 3.75 m.

Through Roads Existing roads with carriageway 3.0 m or more can wait unless evidence of safety hazard. Link Roads As for new construction.

3.

Roadway width 6m in SP:20 (virtually 6.7 m including (a) Through Roads: 6.0 m (including parapet Existing roads with formation upto 5.0m may wait. minimum parapet and drain) and drain) Notes: 5.95 m in Hill Road Manual for ODR (b) Link Roads: 6.0 m (including parapet and (i) In hard rock stretches, an additional tolerance drain) of 0.5 m can be considered i.e. existing roads 5.20 m in Hill Road Manual for VR with formation width upto 4.5 m may wait. Notes (ii) For curves see item 4 below. The width indicated is for roads in straight. This is to be increased on horizontal curves. (iii) Provide passing places at suitable locations.

S. No.

Item

As per IRC:SP:20 (Rural Roads Manual) / Hill Road Manual IRC:SP:48

New Construction

Amendments Recommended Existing Roads (Tolerances that can be accepted)

4.

Widening at Curves

Widening of Pavement and Roadway Upto 20m radius 0.9 m 21 60m radius 0.6 m More than 60 m radius - Nil of 5.5 m Rural Roads Manual SP: 20 4.25 m clear width between kerbs Hill Road Manual SP:48

Widening of Pavement and Roadway Upto 20m radius 0.9 m 21 60m radius 0.6 m More than 60 m radius - Nil Through roads Link roads 5.5 m 4.25 m

For existing roads, widening of pavement and roadway can wait unless there is evidence of safety hazard. For existing bridges, widening may be undertaken at the time of replacing the old and distressed bridges unless there is evidence of safety hazard. Need to provide cautionary sign posts.

5.

Width Bridges

Bridge of > 50m will have 5.5m width.

6.

Roadway width for culverts and causeways

6m in SP:20 (virtually 6.7 m including (a) Through Roads: 6.0 m (including parapet parapet and drain) and drain) 5.95 m in Hill Road Manual for ODR 5.20 m in Hill Road Manual for VR Notes The width indicated is for roads in straight. This is to be increased on horizontal curves. (b) Link Roads: 6.0 m and drain) (including parapet

For existing culverts, widening may be undertaken at the time of replacing the old and dilapidated/distressed culverts and causeways unless there is evidence of safety hazard. Need to provide cautionary sign posts

S. No.

Item

As per IRC:SP:20 (Rural Roads Manual) / Hill Road Manual IRC:SP:48

New Construction

Amendments Recommended Existing Roads (Tolerances that can be accepted)

7.

Minimum radius of horizontal curves

As per IRCSP:20 Mountainous terrain Not affect ed with snow (i) ODR Ruling 30m 33m 23m Sno w bou nd

(i) Through roads Steep Terrain Not affect ed with snow 20m 14m Sno w bou nd Ruling 23m 15m Absolute minimum Ruling Mountainous terrain Not affecte d with snow (i) Through roads 30m 12m 33m 15m 20m 12m 23m 15m Sno w bou nd Steep Terrain Not affecte d with snow Sno w bou nd For existing roads, the horizontal geometry upto absolute minimum may be considered acceptable unless there is evidence of site-specific safety problem related to horizontal curvature such as skid marks, complaints from users, history of crashes, etc. Need to provide cautionary sign posts. (ii) Link roads For existing roads, the existing horizontal geometry may be considered acceptable unless there is evidence of site-specific safety problem related to horizontal curvature such as skid marks, complaints from users, history of crashes, etc. Need to provide cautionary sign posts.

Absolute 20m minimum (ii) VR Ruling 20m

(ii) Link roads 30m 12m 33m 15m 20m 12m 23m 15m 23m 15m 20m 14m 23m 15m Absolute minimum

Absolute 14m minimum

S. No.

Item

As per IRC:SP:20 (Rural Roads Manual) / Hill Road Manual IRC:SP:48

New Construction

Amendments Recommended Existing Roads (Tolerances that can be accepted)

8.

Longitudinal gradients (except hairpin bends)

Ruling Gradient Limiting Gradient Exceptional Gradient

Mountainous Steep Terrain Terrain 5% 6% 6% 7% 7% 8%

Ruling Gradient Limiting 7% 8% Gradient Exceptional 10% 10% Gradient* * Length of exceptional gradient not to exceed 100m at a stretch. Successive stretches to be separated by a minimum length of 100 m with gradient ruling or flatter

Mountainous Terrain 5%

Steep Terrain 6%

For existing roads, the existing vertical curves up to limiting gradient may be considered acceptable. Gradients steeper than limiting gradient but upto exceptional gradient in short stretches could also be considered acceptable unless there is evidence of site-specific problem. Need to provide cautionary sign posts.

9.

Hairpin Bends

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v)

Minimum design speed Minimum roadway (a) ODR (b) VR Minimum radius for the inner curve Minimum length of transition curve Gradient (a) Maximum (b) Minimum

20 km/hour 7.5 m 6.5 m 14 m 15 m 2.5% (1 in 40) 0.5% (1 in 200) 10 %

(i)

Minimum design speed

20 km/hour 7.5 m 6.5 m 12 m 15 m 2.5% (1 in 40) 0.5% (1 in 200) 10 %

(ii) Minimum roadway (a) Through Roads / Link Roads (b) Through Roads / Link Roads (iii) Minimum radius for the curve at central line (iv) Minimum length of transition curve (v) Gradient (a) Maximum (b) Minimum (vi) Maximum Superelevation

The existing hair pin bends may be considered acceptable unless there is site-specific problem and evidence of complaints from users, history of crashes. Need to provide cautionary sign posts.

(vi) Maximum Superelevation