Highway Geometric Design MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Highway Geometric Design - Download Free PDF

Last updated on Jun 11, 2025

Latest Highway Geometric Design MCQ Objective Questions

Highway Geometric Design Question 1:

A cyclist riding on a level road has to turn a corner of radius 50 m. Find the maximum speed with which the cyclist can travel without the fear of skidding. Assume the co-efficient of friction between the tyres and track as 0.2. (Take acceleration due to gravity = 10 m/s2)

  1. 10 m/s
  2. 14.1 m/s
  3. 4.5 m/s
  4. 12 m/s
  5. 20 m/s

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : 10 m/s

Highway Geometric Design Question 1 Detailed Solution

Explanation:

Concept:

While negotiating curve on road by vehicle, the required centripetal force is provided by the frictional force between the road and tyre.

Centripetal force = \(\frac{mv^2}{R}\) and the frictional force =

 For avoiding car to skid the centripetal force must be equal to the frictional force ⇒ \(\frac{mv^2}{R} =\mu mg \)   

∴ Maximum speed with which the cyclist can travel without the fear of skidding  \(v=\, \sqrt{\mu Rg}\)

Solution:

Given, Radius of corner = 50 m,  

coefficient of friction between the tires and track =  0.2,

 acceleration due to gravity = 10 m/s2

Maximum speed with which the cyclist can travel without the fear of skidding 

 \(v=\, \sqrt{\mu Rg} = \, \sqrt{0.2\times 50\times 9.81} =\, 9.9 \approx 10\) m/s

Highway Geometric Design Question 2:

Select the correct statement :

  1. Psychological extra widening depends upon the number of traffic lanes.
  2. Mechanical extra widening depends upon the speed of vehicles.
  3. Psychological extra widening depends upon the length of wheel base.
  4. Mechanical extra widening depends upon the length of wheel base and the radius of curve.
  5. None of the above

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : Mechanical extra widening depends upon the length of wheel base and the radius of curve.

Highway Geometric Design Question 2 Detailed Solution

Explanation:

The extra width of a carriageway that is required on a curved section of a road over and above that is required on a straight alignment is known as Extra Widening.

Mechanical widening: The widening required to account for the off-tracking due to rigidity of wheelbase is known as Mechanical widening. It can be calculated as:

\({W_m} = \frac{{n{l^2}}}{{2R}}\)

n = Number of lanes

l = length of wheelbase = 6.1 m

R = Radius of circular curve

Psychological Widening: Extra width of pavement provided for psychological reasons such as overhangs of vehicles, greater clearance for crossing, etc is known as Psychological Widening.

\({W_{ps}} = \frac{V}{{9.5\sqrt R }}\)

V = Design speed (kmph)

Highway Geometric Design Question 3:

If the cross slope of a country is 10%, the terrain is classified as

  1. Mountainous
  2. Steep
  3. Rolling
  4. Plain

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : Plain

Highway Geometric Design Question 3 Detailed Solution

Concept:

The classification of terrain according to the cross slope is as follows:

Terrain classification

Terrain classification

Cross slope (%)

Plain

0-10

Rolling

10-25

Mountainous

25-60

Steep

>60

Highway Geometric Design Question 4:

What percentage camber must be provided for a CC road passing through low rainfall area?

  1. 3.0%
  2. 1.7%
  3. 2.0%
  4. 2.5%

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 1.7%

Highway Geometric Design Question 4 Detailed Solution

Explanation:

For Cement Concrete (CC) roads in low rainfall areas, a camber of 1.70% is typically recommended.

Type of pavement Heavy Rainfall Low Rainfall
Cement Concrete and high type bituminous surface 1 in 50 1 in 60
Thin Bituminous surface 1 in 40 1 in 50
WBM, gravel pavement 1 in 33 1 in 40
Earthen roads 1 in 25 1 in 33

Additional Information

  • Camber is the transverse slope given to the surface of the road to facilitate drainage of surface water toward the sides and prevent water accumulation on the road.

  • It is usually provided in a convex shape, meaning the center of the road is higher than the edges, allowing water to flow off the pavement quickly.

Highway Geometric Design Question 5:

The erosion between shoulder and pavement leads to

  1. Drop
  2. Flat drop
  3. Edge drop
  4. Break down

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : Edge drop

Highway Geometric Design Question 5 Detailed Solution

Explanation:

  • Edge drop refers to the vertical separation or difference in level between the pavement and the adjacent shoulder.

  • This condition typically occurs due to erosion or settlement of the shoulder material, especially when:

    • Drainage is poor,

    • Traffic regularly moves onto the shoulder, or

    • Shoulder material is not well compacted.

  • Edge drop can:

    • Pose a safety hazard to vehicles,

    • Cause tire damage, and

    • Lead to further pavement edge deterioration if not corrected.

Top Highway Geometric Design MCQ Objective Questions

The maximum superelevation on hill roads should not exceed 

  1. 7%
  2. 8%
  3. 9%
  4. 10%

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 10%

Highway Geometric Design Question 6 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

The centrifugal force exerted on the vehicles while traversing through the curves is counteracted by providing superelevation, which is given by:​​

\( \;e = \frac{{{V^2}}}{{127R}}\)

However, it is assumed that the centrifugal force is completely nullified if the vehicle is travelling at its 75% of the vehicle design speed.

∴ \( \;e = \frac{{{(0.75V)^2}}}{{127R}} = \frac{{{V^2}}}{{225R}}\)

According to IRC,

Maximum Superelevation

Plain & Rolled Terrain

7 %

Hilly Terrain

10%

Urban Roads

4%

Calculate the lag distance for design speed of 47 km/h for two-way traffic on a single-lane road (assume coefficient of friction as 0.38 and reaction time of driver as 2.5 seconds)

  1. 32.64 m
  2. 111.04 m
  3. 55.52 m
  4. 65.28 m

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 65.28 m

Highway Geometric Design Question 7 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

Lag distance = 0.278 × V × tR

Where,

V = Speed in Kmph

tR = Reaction time in sec

Calculation:

Lag distance = 0.278 × 47 × 2.5 = 32.665

For two way traffic on a single lane lag distance = 2 × 32.665 = 65.33 m

The type of transition curve that is generally provided on hill road is

  1. Circular
  2. Cubic parabola
  3. Lemniscate
  4. Spiral

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : Spiral

Highway Geometric Design Question 8 Detailed Solution

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Explanation:

Transitions curve:

(i) When a vehicle traveling on a straight road enters into a horizontal curve instantaneously, it will cause discomfort to the driver. To avoid this, it is required to provide a transition curve. This may be provided either between a tangent and a circular curve or between two branches of a compound or reverse curve.

Different types of transition curve:

The types of transition curves commonly adopted in horizontal alignment highway are

(i) Spiral or clothoid

(ii) Bernoulli’s Lemniscate

(iii) Cubic parabola

F1 Shraddha Chandra 25.01.2021 D2

(a) All the three curves follow almost the same path up to deflection angle of 4°, and practically there is no significant difference between even up to 9°. In all these curves, the radius decreases as the length increases.

(b) According to IRC ideal shape for transition curve is spiral because rate of change of radial acceleration remains constant. Generally, spiral curve provided on hilly road.

(c) Cubic parabola is provided for the railway.

For a hill road with the ruling gradient of 6%, what will be the compensated gradient at a curve of radius 60 m?

  1. 5.5%
  2. 4.5%
  3. 4.75%
  4. 5%

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 4.75%

Highway Geometric Design Question 9 Detailed Solution

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Given:

Ruling gradient of hilly road = 6%

Radius of curve (R) = 60 m

Calculation:

Grade compensation = \(\frac{{30\; + \;R}}{R}\% \)

= \(\frac{{30\; + \;60}}{{60}}\% \) = 1.5%

This should not be more than

= \(\frac{{75}}{R}\% \) = \(\frac{{75}}{{60}}\% \) = 1.25%

Compensated gradient = Ruling gradient – Grade compensation

= 6% – 1.25% = 4.75%

The minimum design speed adopted where hair-pin bends are provided at hill roads is _________.

  1. 40 Kmph
  2. 20 Kmph
  3. 50 Kmph 
  4. 30 Kmph

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : 20 Kmph

Highway Geometric Design Question 10 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

Design Speed:

  • It is defined as the maximum speed at which vehicles can continuously travel safely under favorable conditions is called design speed. 
  • It may also be thought of as the maximum approximate speed that will be adopted by most drivers, Choice of design speed has to be made carefully, so as to match the terrain condition and also to be acceptable to most road users.
  • It is the basic parameter that determines all other geometric design features.

Design speeds for various classes of Roads are given below in the table:

Classification of Roads

Design speed (Km/h)

Arterial Road

80

Sub-arterial Road  

60

Collector Road

50

Local Road

30

Hairpin bends:

  • A hairpin bend is a sharp curve and it is located on a hillside having the minimum slope and maximum stability.
  • It must also be safe from the viewpoint of landslides and groundwater.
  • For reducing the construction problems and expensive protection works, the hairpin bends should be provided with long arms and farther spacing. 
  • The minimum design speed adopted where hairpin bends are provided at hill roads is 20 Kmph.

 

 In a vertical curve, an upgrade of 2.0% is followed by a downgrade of 2.0%. The rate of change of grade is 0.05% per 20 m chain. The length of the vertical curve will be:

  1. 800 m
  2. 1000 m
  3. 1200 m
  4. 1600 m

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 1600 m

Highway Geometric Design Question 11 Detailed Solution

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Explanation

Given,

 Upgrade of 2.0 % followed by the downgrade of 2 % 

 N1 = 2 % , N2 = - 2%

  Rate of change of grade is 0.05 % per 20 m chain.

 Total change in grade (N) = N1 – N2

 N= 2 % - (- 2%) = 2% + 2%

 N = 4 %

\({\rm{Total\;Length}} = \frac{4}{{0.05}} \times 20 =1600\;m\)

Roadway width for National Highway and State Highway (two lanes) as per IRC is 

  1. 7.5 m
  2. 10 m
  3. 12 m
  4. 15 m

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : 12 m

Highway Geometric Design Question 12 Detailed Solution

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Width of formation or roadway width:

It is the sum of the widths of pavements or carriageways including separators and shoulders. This does not include the extra land of formation/cutting.

These values suggested by IRC:

Road classification

Roadway width in m

Plain and rolling terrain

Mountainous and steep terrain

NH/SH

12

6.25-8.8

MDR

9

4.75

ODR

7.5-9.0

4.75

VR

7.5

4.0

 

∴ The width of National & State Highways in plain and rolling terrain for the two-lane is 12 m.

An 8 m wide bituminous concrete pavement of a state highway is to be constructed in a heavy rainfall region. What should be the height of the crown with respect to the edges if cross fall of 1 in 50 is used?

  1. 0.07 m
  2. 0.058 m
  3. 0.062 m
  4. 0.08 m

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 0.08 m

Highway Geometric Design Question 13 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

The height of the crown with respect to edges is given by

 \(\rm Height~ of ~crown=\rm \frac{Width ~of ~pavement}{{2}} \times Camber \)

Calculation:

Given: Width of road = 8 m, camber (or) cross fall = 1 in 50 = 1/50 = 0.02

 \(\rm Height~ of ~crown=\rm \frac{8}{{2}} \times 0.02\)

⇒ Height of crown = 0.08 m

Additional Information

Camber of pavement depends on

  • Type of pavement
  • Intensity of rainfall (Light/Heavy rain)

 

Type of pavement

Heavy Rain

Light Rain

Cement Concrete and high type bituminous surface

1 in 50

1 in 60

Thin Bituminous surface

1 in 40

1 in 50

WBM, gravel pavement

1 in 33

1 in 40

Earthen roads

1 in 25

1 in 33

Extra widening of pavements provided because of off tracking is known as:

  1. Mechanical widening
  2. Psychological widening
  3. Frictional widening
  4. Physical widening

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 1 : Mechanical widening

Highway Geometric Design Question 14 Detailed Solution

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Explanation:

The extra width of carriageway that is required on a curved section of a road over and above that is required on a straight alignment is known as Extra Widening.

Mechanical widening: The widening required to account for the off-tracking due to rigidity of wheelbase is known as Mechanical widening. It can be calculated as:

\({W_m} = \frac{{n{l^2}}}{{2R}}\)

n = Number of lanes

l = length of wheelbase = 6.1 m

R = Radius of circular curve

Psychological Widening: Extra width of pavement provided for psychological reasons such as overhangs of vehicles, greater clearance for crossing, etc is known as Psychological Widening.

\({W_{ps}} = \frac{V}{{9.5\sqrt R }}\)

V = Design speed (kmph)

In a horizontal highway curve, if the width of the highway is 10 m and the outer edge is 40 cm higher with respect to the inner edge, then the super elevation is

  1. 1 in 20
  2. 1 in 40
  3. 1 in 50
  4. 1 in 25

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : 1 in 25

Highway Geometric Design Question 15 Detailed Solution

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Concept:

  • If the pavement is rotated about the inner side, Then rise of outer edge = e × W
  • If the pavement is the rotated about center line, Then rise of the outer edge =  \( \frac{e\;×\; W}{{2}}\)


Where e = Super elevation and W = Width of pavement

Calculation:

Given: Rise of outer edge with respect to inner = 40 cm, W = 10 m = 1000 cm

It is given outer edge is 40 cm higher with respect to inner edge

40 = e × 1000

\(e= \frac{40}{{1000}} =\frac{1}{{25}}\)

The required superelevation is 1 in 25

Additional Information

Superelevation:

To counteract the effect of centrifugal force and to reduce the tendency of the vehicle to overturn or skid, the outer edge of the pavement is raised with respect to the inner edge, thus providing a transverse slope throughout the length of the horizontal curve. This transverse inclination to the pavement surface is known as superelevation or cant.

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