Transportation Engineering, Pavement and
Geometric Design
Assessment 2 (Project) Answers
Year 2026
Title: Upgrading of a 4 km-Rustenburg Road from a Gravel Road to a
Standard Surface 4-lane, divided road.
0027 68 628 1800
1
, Declaration
I, ……………………………………………, ID No/Passport No…………………hereby
declare that this project is my own work
SIGNED………………………………………………………….
NAME……………………………………………………………
STUDENT NUMBER……………………………………………
CONTACT NUMBERS:
TEL...........................................................................................
CELL………………………………………………………………..
2
, Transportation, Pavement and Geometric Design (TPG3700)
DESIGN PROJECT – 2025
PROJECT MENTOR FORM
PLEASE COMPLETE IN CLEAR BLOCK LETTERS AND SUBMIT
AS PART OF THE PROJECT PROPOSAL
Student initial and surname: ............................................................
Student no.: ......................................……………………
Tel no.: ..................................................... (work)
Cell phone no.: ………………………………………………..
UNISA e-mail address: ....................................................
Subject name and Mentor’s details
code
Transportation, Initials & surname: Signature of
Pavement and mentor
Tel no.:
Geometric Design
(TPG3700) E-mail address:
I confirm that I have discussed all aspects of the project with the mentor
from………………………………………………..(Name of institution) and that
UNISA will in no way be liable for any costs with respect to this project.
______________________ ______________
SIGNATURE OF LEARNER DATE
3
,Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 6
1.1 Project Overview ............................................................................................... 6
1.2 Existing road description ................................................................................... 6
1.3 Design data ....................................................................................................... 8
2.0 GEOMETRIC DESIGN (MANUAL CALCULATIONS) ......................................... 9
2.1 Vertical curve .................................................................................................... 9
2.1.1 Vertical curve: Excel calculator tool .......................................................... 11
3.0 PAVEMENT STRUCTURE DESIGN .................................................................. 13
3.1 Design standards ........................................................................................ 13
3.2 Subgrade delineation and design CBR determination .................................... 13
3.3 Subgrade design ............................................................................................. 14
3.4 Pavement design alternatives ......................................................................... 15
3.4.1 Granular base design ............................................................................... 15
3.4.2 Cement treated base ................................................................................ 17
3.4.3 Hot Mix Alsphalt base ............................................................................... 18
4.0 DRAINAGE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN................................................................ 20
4.1 Road surface drainage requirements .............................................................. 20
4.2 Road reserve drainage requirements .............................................................. 20
5.0 SOFTWARE-AIDED GEOMETRIC DESIGN ..................................................... 21
5.1 Design standards ............................................................................................ 21
5.2 Overview of AutoCAD Civil 3D as the adopted Geometric Design Software... 21
5.3 Road reserve requirements (TRH26) .............................................................. 22
5.4 Road cross-section elements and dimensions ................................................ 22
5.5 Design data input to the geometric design software ....................................... 23
5.6 Design procedure ............................................................................................ 23
4
, 5.7 Excel calculator tool for a horizontal curve ...................................................... 35
6.0 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 36
7.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 37
8.0 DESIGN DRAWINGS......................................................................................... 38
8.1 Horizontal and Vertical Alignments ................................................................. 38
8.2 Cross sections ................................................................................................ 46
5
,1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Overview
Highway design is a crucial aspect of civil engineering that focuses on the planning,
design, and construction of roads and highways. The goal of highway design is to
create safe, efficient, and sustainable roadways that accommodate varying traffic
volumes and conditions. Highway design refers to the process of planning and
constructing roads that allow for efficient traffic movement while ensuring the safety of
drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The design involves a careful balance between
functionality, safety, and cost-efficiency, taking into consideration the terrain, traffic
volumes, and future transportation needs.1
The main purpose of this project is to upgrade an existing road section in Rustenburg
to a 4-lane, divided road with sidewalks. AutoCAD Civil 3D software will be used to
design the vertical and horizontal alignments of the road. In addition, a conceptual
design of the drainage stormwater along the proposed road design is going to be
carried out. This report will also include manual calculations of horizontal curve and a
vertical curve according to TRH17 Geometric Design of Rural Roads and SANRAL
Road Drainage manual.
1.2 Existing road description
The proposed road section upgrade is located in Rustenburg. Rustenburg has been
highly dependent on mining which is responsible for more than 65% of local GDP and
50% of all direct jobs.2 The road is currently a 2-lane gravel road with open drains and
culverts susceptible to siltation, no public transport stops, severe problems with silt
and sediments depositing on the road, high volume of pedestrian walking on shoulder.
Upgrading this road to a 4-lane, divided road will solve these challenges.
1 Highway Design: Creating Safe and Efficient Roadways - Turn2Engineering
2 "Economic Dependence on a Single Industry". e.huawei.com.
6
, Fig 1: 4km Road section in Rustenburg
This report includes:
1. A software-aided design
2. Alignment design for 4.0 km
3. Manual design calculations of a horizontal curve and a vertical curve of the
proposed road
4. Computer generated horizontal curve and a vertical curve of the proposed road
5. CBR Design
6. Pavement Structure
7. A detailed hypothetical conceptual design of the stormwater drainage network
7
Geometric Design
Assessment 2 (Project) Answers
Year 2026
Title: Upgrading of a 4 km-Rustenburg Road from a Gravel Road to a
Standard Surface 4-lane, divided road.
0027 68 628 1800
1
, Declaration
I, ……………………………………………, ID No/Passport No…………………hereby
declare that this project is my own work
SIGNED………………………………………………………….
NAME……………………………………………………………
STUDENT NUMBER……………………………………………
CONTACT NUMBERS:
TEL...........................................................................................
CELL………………………………………………………………..
2
, Transportation, Pavement and Geometric Design (TPG3700)
DESIGN PROJECT – 2025
PROJECT MENTOR FORM
PLEASE COMPLETE IN CLEAR BLOCK LETTERS AND SUBMIT
AS PART OF THE PROJECT PROPOSAL
Student initial and surname: ............................................................
Student no.: ......................................……………………
Tel no.: ..................................................... (work)
Cell phone no.: ………………………………………………..
UNISA e-mail address: ....................................................
Subject name and Mentor’s details
code
Transportation, Initials & surname: Signature of
Pavement and mentor
Tel no.:
Geometric Design
(TPG3700) E-mail address:
I confirm that I have discussed all aspects of the project with the mentor
from………………………………………………..(Name of institution) and that
UNISA will in no way be liable for any costs with respect to this project.
______________________ ______________
SIGNATURE OF LEARNER DATE
3
,Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 6
1.1 Project Overview ............................................................................................... 6
1.2 Existing road description ................................................................................... 6
1.3 Design data ....................................................................................................... 8
2.0 GEOMETRIC DESIGN (MANUAL CALCULATIONS) ......................................... 9
2.1 Vertical curve .................................................................................................... 9
2.1.1 Vertical curve: Excel calculator tool .......................................................... 11
3.0 PAVEMENT STRUCTURE DESIGN .................................................................. 13
3.1 Design standards ........................................................................................ 13
3.2 Subgrade delineation and design CBR determination .................................... 13
3.3 Subgrade design ............................................................................................. 14
3.4 Pavement design alternatives ......................................................................... 15
3.4.1 Granular base design ............................................................................... 15
3.4.2 Cement treated base ................................................................................ 17
3.4.3 Hot Mix Alsphalt base ............................................................................... 18
4.0 DRAINAGE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN................................................................ 20
4.1 Road surface drainage requirements .............................................................. 20
4.2 Road reserve drainage requirements .............................................................. 20
5.0 SOFTWARE-AIDED GEOMETRIC DESIGN ..................................................... 21
5.1 Design standards ............................................................................................ 21
5.2 Overview of AutoCAD Civil 3D as the adopted Geometric Design Software... 21
5.3 Road reserve requirements (TRH26) .............................................................. 22
5.4 Road cross-section elements and dimensions ................................................ 22
5.5 Design data input to the geometric design software ....................................... 23
5.6 Design procedure ............................................................................................ 23
4
, 5.7 Excel calculator tool for a horizontal curve ...................................................... 35
6.0 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 36
7.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 37
8.0 DESIGN DRAWINGS......................................................................................... 38
8.1 Horizontal and Vertical Alignments ................................................................. 38
8.2 Cross sections ................................................................................................ 46
5
,1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Overview
Highway design is a crucial aspect of civil engineering that focuses on the planning,
design, and construction of roads and highways. The goal of highway design is to
create safe, efficient, and sustainable roadways that accommodate varying traffic
volumes and conditions. Highway design refers to the process of planning and
constructing roads that allow for efficient traffic movement while ensuring the safety of
drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The design involves a careful balance between
functionality, safety, and cost-efficiency, taking into consideration the terrain, traffic
volumes, and future transportation needs.1
The main purpose of this project is to upgrade an existing road section in Rustenburg
to a 4-lane, divided road with sidewalks. AutoCAD Civil 3D software will be used to
design the vertical and horizontal alignments of the road. In addition, a conceptual
design of the drainage stormwater along the proposed road design is going to be
carried out. This report will also include manual calculations of horizontal curve and a
vertical curve according to TRH17 Geometric Design of Rural Roads and SANRAL
Road Drainage manual.
1.2 Existing road description
The proposed road section upgrade is located in Rustenburg. Rustenburg has been
highly dependent on mining which is responsible for more than 65% of local GDP and
50% of all direct jobs.2 The road is currently a 2-lane gravel road with open drains and
culverts susceptible to siltation, no public transport stops, severe problems with silt
and sediments depositing on the road, high volume of pedestrian walking on shoulder.
Upgrading this road to a 4-lane, divided road will solve these challenges.
1 Highway Design: Creating Safe and Efficient Roadways - Turn2Engineering
2 "Economic Dependence on a Single Industry". e.huawei.com.
6
, Fig 1: 4km Road section in Rustenburg
This report includes:
1. A software-aided design
2. Alignment design for 4.0 km
3. Manual design calculations of a horizontal curve and a vertical curve of the
proposed road
4. Computer generated horizontal curve and a vertical curve of the proposed road
5. CBR Design
6. Pavement Structure
7. A detailed hypothetical conceptual design of the stormwater drainage network
7
