is an engineering discipline branching from civil engineering that involves the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of roads, bridges, and tunnels to ensure safe and effective transportation of people and goods

What is

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Highways in the Philippines

-Trails, waterways, railroad, earth road, and partially graveled roads.- American government initiated the development of roadways, Macadam road type- Continued the rehabilitation and construction of roads and bridges

- 50 yrs. after, major highways and expressways were constructed through the support of foreign banks

- Japanese and US gov’t

- Land Transportation records - DPWH must open 400 km roads every year - Year 1960 to early part of 1980, automobile age - Get the farmers out of the mud - “ this nation is on wheels”

Planning Difficulties- Financial

- Political

- Technical

The present economic is related to the gov’t budgetary expenditures for payment of foreign debt and highway developments plans are shelves temporarily for lack of funds

Comprehensive road development plans that are carefully studied by technical expert are twisted or flexed down by political muscles

Because of political decisions technical seems to have lost confidence to thyself, or even the solution that they offer

Highway Programming

There are three inseparable sets of inputs:

Economic – deals with the questions of resourcesFinancial – who pays and who spends, how much, and where?Political and Administration – involves decision making

Direct effect of Highway Construction and its Use

Quantifiable Market Value1. Cost of highways as to:

a. planning costb. right of way appropriationsc. construction costd. maintenance cost

e. operating cost

Quantifiable Market Value2. cost benefits to highway users

a. vehicles operating costb. travel savings timec. motorist’s safety

Non-Quantifiable Market Value1. cost benefit to highway user:

a. motorist’s safetyb. comfort and conversionc. aesthetic from driving viewpoint

Quantifiable Non-Market Value1. cost benefit to highway user- traveling saving time

Community Involvement

-Highway agencies conduct public hearings to afford interested persons an opportunity to include in the process.

•if substantial amounts of right of way are required• if there is substantial change in the layout of connecting roadways or the facility being improved.• if there is a substantial adverse effect on abutting property• if there property otherwise has significant social, economic, or environmental effects.

Highway EconomyThe intent of expenditures for highways and public transportations are enumerated as follows:

1. To supplement the country’s level of economy2. To provide easy access to working place3. To facilitate public services; police, fire protection, etc.4. To facilitate medical care, schooling and delivery of related basic services.5. To give land owner benefits to transportation and increase property assessment.6. Benefit to motor vehicle users through lower cost of operation and maintenance.7. Benefit in time saving.8. Less road accident.9. To give maximum comfort and ease of travel.

Arguments of those who Favors Borrowing are:1.The need is immediate to have instant infra.2. No impact project will be seen because the “pay as you go” fund is scattered throughout the entire road system where the situation is most critical.3. Borrowings encourage investors because of fast progress.

Counter Arguments of those against Financing Infra. Through Borrowing are:1.Borrowing may impair the credit rating of gov’t. agencies obstructing other more important improvements.2. If future income is committed to pay past improvements, no more funds available to maintain the existing system. 3. With much amount available temptation is there to overbuild and recklessly spend extravagantly.4. Interest of the loan is a big waste of public funds.

Location of a Proposed Highway

Locations surveys in the rural areas are divided into four stages:

Stage I Reconnaissance survey of the entire area

Stage II Reconnaissance survey of feasible route

Stage III Preliminary survey of the best route

Stage IV Location survey

Highway Plans and Specification-are set of documents of instructions and conditions under which highways and bridges are built.

The complete detailed scheme(plan) for the road which are incorporated in the geometric designs are:

1.Traffic2. Drainage3. Erosion control4. Roadside Development5. Structure6. Soils7. Pavement

The SpecificationsRequiring knowledge of the law of contracts as well as highway practices and experiences.

Highway specifications is divided into two:

1.Standard Specifications –applies to project implemented by administration which treat the subject that repeatedly occurs in the agency work.

2.Special Provision – covers peculiar item of the project in question that include additional modification to standard specs. This includes copies of all documents required in securing competitive bids and contracts.