The field visit report summarizes observations from a visit to components of the transportation system on the BP Highway in Nepal. Key structures observed included catch drains, longitudinal drains, pipe culverts, retaining walls, breast walls, gabion walls, shotcrete, traffic signs, hairpin bends, and railroad tracks. Drainage structures like culverts were clogged and in need of cleaning and maintenance. Various retaining structures like walls and shotcrete were used to stabilize slopes and prevent erosion. Traffic signs helped guide drivers on the curvy mountain roads. The field visit helped provide visual knowledge of transportation infrastructure in hilly areas.

1. TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
KHWOPA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
An undertaking of Bhaktapur Municipality
Libali, Bhaktapur
A
Report on: Transportation Engineering-I
Title: Field visit report on components of Transportation system
SUBMITTED BY: SUBMITTED TO:
Name: Sushrut Gautam Department of Civil Engineering
Roll no: KCE074BCE089 Khwopa College of Engineering
Libali, Bhaktapur
Date of Submission: 2077/11/21

2. i
PREFACE
A 4 days and 3 nights field visit to different irrigation projects, different transportation structures and
Hetauda Cement Factory was organized by Khwopa College of Engineering. The field visit was from
Falgun 11 to Falgun 14, 2077 B.S. as per the curriculum of IOE, Tribhuvan University. We were able
to visit and see the different components of Transportation system which helped us to grab the
knowledge about them visually. It is our belief that the report will serve to introduce about the
Transportation components mainly of Hilly roads. For this I would like to show my gratitude to Er.
Ramesh Bala, HOD, Department of Civil Engineering, Khwopa College of Engineering and all other
who helped us directly and indirectly during our trip and field visit. We would like to extend our
gratitude to our friends who helped us to prepare this report and made our field visit unforgettable.
Sincerely,
Sushrut Gautam
KCE074BCE089

3. ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We must express our sincere gratitude towards Department of Civil Engineering, Khwopa College
of Engineering for organizing the field trip for Transportation Engineering. We must express our
deep sense of gratitude towards Head of Department, Er. Ramesh Bala sir for organizing the trip.
We are deeply indebted to Er. Naresh Suwal, Er. Bibek Shahi, Er. Anil Kasula and Mr. Nirmal
Kafle sir for sharing a part of their brain and for proper guidance during field trip
We must acknowledge our deep sense of gratitude to the staffs of Khwopa College of Engineering,
drivers and co-drivers for making our trip a success. We must acknowledge our obligation to all the
non-teaching staff of the Field trip for making our work a success. Also, we wish to record our
appreciation to our friends for providing the inexpressible amount of support and guidance. We are
highly obliged to all the people who supported us directly and indirectly throughout the duration of
the field visit to the submission of this report. Thanks are due to our family and friends who supported
us on our field visit.

4. iii
ABSTRACT
This report deals with different components of Transportation system mainly on Hill roads of BP
Highway. Transportation engineering is the application of technology and scientific principles to the
planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation
in order to provide for the safe, efficient, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and
environmentally compatible movement of people and goods. This report is truly based on our
knowledge gained from the field visit conducted by Khwopa College of Engineering for the partial
fulfillment of the requirement for the Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering as per the syllabus of
Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University in third year, second part. This field visit has been
able to impart us the great opportunity to consolidate and review the practical and theoretical
knowledge on transportation engineering. With the help of this field visit we were able to visualize
the different components clearly which was not possible from text books and viewing pictures. We
have been able to achieve the true objectives of the visit and upgrade the knowledge about different
retaining structures, protection measures, highway components, drainage structures and also helped
in visualizing the hill roads. In summary, through the field visit, we get familiarized with structures
in hill road, protection works and also with the problems that are probable in hill road and their
mitigation measures.
Keywords: Hill roads, Transportation, Retaining structures, Drainage, Mitigation measures

5. iv
Table of Contents
PREFACE............................................................................................................................................ i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................................................................................................................. ii
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................... iii
1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................1
1.1 Hill Road...............................................................................................................................1
1.1.1 B.P. Highway (H06)..........................................................................................................1
2. OBJECTIVES ..............................................................................................................................1
3. METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................................................2
4. Day 1: 2077/11/11........................................................................................................................2
4.1 Catch Drain ...........................................................................................................................2
4.2 Longitudinal Drain................................................................................................................2
4.3 Pipe Culvert...........................................................................................................................3
4.4 Retaining Wall ......................................................................................................................3
4.5 Breast Wall............................................................................................................................4
4.6 Gabion Wall ..........................................................................................................................4
4.7 Shotcrete................................................................................................................................5
4.8 Traffic Signs..........................................................................................................................5
4.9 Concrete wall with wire mesh...............................................................................................5
5. Hair Pin Bend ...............................................................................................................................6
6. Fall or Drop Structure...................................................................................................................6
7. Railway Track ..............................................................................................................................7
8. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION..........................................................................................8
9. RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................................................................8
10. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................8

6. v
List of Figures
Figure 1: Catch Drain…………………………………………………………………………..........8
Figure 2: Longitudinal Drain………………………………………………………………………..8
Figure 3: Pipe Culvert………………………………………………………………………….........9
Figure 4: Retaining Wall……………………………………………………………………….........9
Figure 5: Breast Wall………………………………………………………………………….........10
Figure 6: Gabion Wall…………………………………………………………………………...…10
Figure 7: Shotcrete…………………………………………………………………………….........11
Figure 8: Traffic Signs……………………………………………………………………………...11
Figure 9: Concrete wall with wire mesh……………………………………………………………11
Figure 10: Hair Pin Bends…………………………………………………………………………..12
Figure 11: Fall or Drop structure…………………………………………………………………...12
Figure 12: Railway Track…………………………………………………………………………..13

7. 1
1. INTRODUCTION
Transportation is responsible for development of civilizations from the very ancient times by
meeting travel requirement of people and transport requirements of goods. Transportation is a
non-separable part of society. It exhibits a very close relation to the style of life, the range and
location of activities and the goods and services which will be available for consumption.
1.1 Hill Road
A hill road may be defined as one which passes through the area with a cross slope of 25%
or more. There may be sections along hill roads with the cross slope less than 25%, especially
when the road follows a river route. Even then these sections are also referred to as hill roads.
Hence, to establish a hill road overall terrain must be taken into account. The hilly regions
generally have extremes of climatic conditions, difficult and hazardous terrains, topography
and vast high-altitude areas. The region is sparsely populated and basic infrastructural
facilities available in plain terrain are absent. Hence, a strong stable and feasible road must
be present in hilly areas for overall development of other sectors as well. Curves, sharp bends,
sleep gradients and limited width of roadway make hill roads more liable to accidents. Also,
the effects of heavy rainfall on the construction and maintenance of a hill road are serious. At
many locations on the hill roads, the landslides and slips may occur during heavy rainfall.
Therefore, much care is needed during their layout and construction so as to provide a stable
and safe road. Moreover, a large number of streams cross the road and hence a suitable facility
for cross drainage is needed.
The hilly regions generally have extremes of climatic conditions, difficult and hazardous
terrain, topography and vast high-altitude areas. The region is sparsely populated and the
basic infrastructural facilities that are available in plan areas are mostly absent. The roads in
these areas are affected by floods, landslides, snowfall etc. compelling certain roads to be
closed in part of the year especially in winter months. But these areas are rich in natural
resources, flora and fauna and are important to launch development projects, tourism etc.
1.1.1 B.P. Highway (H06)
The BP Highway, also known as the Banepa-Bardibas Highway, is a highway in eastern
Nepal. It links Kathmandu Valley with the Eastern Terai region. It is named after the former
leader of Nepal, BP Koirala. This highway is the shortest link between Kathmandu valley
and the Terai region in Nepal. Construction of the highway began on 1996 and after
encountering different issues with materials, manpower and budget, the road was finally
completed and handed over to the Nepalese government on 3 July 2015. Its total length is
158km.
2. OBJECTIVES
i) To visualize different components of Hill Roads.
ii) To be familiar with various features of Hill Road.
iii) To know about Drainage and Retaining structures.
iv) To know about energy dissipating measures and highway strengthening measures.

8. 2
3. METHODOLOGY
We were taken to see different components of Hill roads, with the explanation of teachers in the
B.P. Highway. We saw and obtained information about different protection works, components
of hill roads in the field trip.
4. Day 1: 2077/11/11
4.1 Catch Drain
A catch drain is a land drain, a ditch cut across the fall of the land, typically just above the
level of low-lying. These drains generally facilitate to collect water from the side of the road
and release in the longitudinal drain. This helps to prevent the seepage of water to the road
and also protects the side of the road.
4.1.1 Conditions
i. No work of maintenance was seen.
ii. The catch drain was filled with soil.
Figure 1: Catch Drain
4.2 Longitudinal Drain
These are the drainage structure running parallelly along the road. Water from the catch drains
is collected here and is released to the stream and other water courses nearby.
4.2.1 Conditions
i. Maintenance was poor.
ii. The drains were filled with debris.
Figure 2: Longitudinal Drain

9. 3
4.3 Pipe Culvert
When stream carries low discharge and alignment has high embankment, pipe culverts are
considered more suitable. Pipe is laid slightly inclined. There should be at least 50cm cover
of soil so that traffic load transmitted on pipe is of small intensity and without vibrations. It
is the most commonly used drainage structure.
4.3.1 Conditions
i. No work of cleaning and maintenance.
ii. Stagnation of polluted water with garbage was seen.
iii. Clogging due to vegetation growth.
Figure 3: Pipe Culvert
4.4 Retaining Wall
Retaining walls are relatively rigid walls used for supporting soil laterally so that it can be
retained at different levels on the two sides. Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain
soil to a slope that it would not naturally keep to. They are used to bound soils between two
different elevations often in areas of terrain possessing undesirable slopes or in areas where
the landscape needs to be shaped severely and engineered for more specific purposes like
hillside farming or roadway overpasses.
4.4.1 Observations
i. It is the supporting wall below the road level.
ii. Sone and concrete were used to construct it.
Figure 4: Retaining Wall

10. 4
4.5 Breast Wall
This wall standoff to protect a freshly cut or old surface of a natural hill face. It is mostly
considered in the areas where there is the action of weather and rainwater flowing over hill’s
slope, to prevent the hill slides. It also prevents slides of unreliable soils. It is used to retain
natural earth at the bank of the river.
4.5.1 Observations
i. It is the supporting structure above the road level.
ii. Stone and concrete were used to construct it.
Figure 5: Breast Wall
4.6 Gabion Wall
A gabion wall is a retaining wall made of stacked stone-filled gabions tied together with wire.
Gabion walls are executed mainly in the purpose of soil stabilization behind the wall, but it
can also be executed as a cover wall. The wall is made from gabion baskets that are stacked
in one or more rows, depending on the height of the wall.
4.6.1 Observations
i. Wire meshing the stone wall was done to create Gabion wall.
ii. It prevents soil erosion and provide stability to the road.
Figure 6: Gabion Wall

11. 5
4.7 Shotcrete
It is concrete or mortar conveyed through a hose and pneumatically projected at high velocity
onto a surface. Shotcrete is placed and compacted/consolidated at the same time, due to the
force with which it is ejected from the nozzle. It is reinforced by conventional steel rods, steel
mesh, and/or fibres.
4.7.1 Observations
i. A number of shotcreting was observed along the hill side of the road.
ii. It prevents soil erosion and provide stability to hill road.
Figure 7: Shotcrete
4.8 Traffic Signs
A number of traffic signs like speed limitations, regulatory signs, and warning signs were
placed along the side of road. These traffic signs help driver to drive carefully knowing the
ahead condition of the road.
Figure 8: Traffic Signs
4.9 Concrete wall with wire mesh
At the curve of the hair pin bend, concrete wall with wire mesh was provided. This is because
of a large load dissipating at the edge and due to the vibrational load of the moving vehicle
above it. The wire mesh prevents the falling of structure.

12. 6
Wire meshes were provided so as to collect the stone and some portion of slope. Thus, it was
used to prevent rockfall, rockslide and slope failure.
Figure 9: Concrete wall with wire mesh
5. Hair Pin Bend
In hilly regions it may become difficult to avoid bends where direction of the road reverses. In
hill road alignment, hair pin bends are introduced particularly when it becomes necessary to attain
height without covering substantial horizontal distance. Hair pin bends where unavoidable may
be designed either as a circular curve with transition at each end or as a compound circular curve.
A number of hair pin bends were observed in the B.P. Highway.
Figure 10: Hair Pin Bends
6. Fall or Drop Structure
A vertical drop which is provided to step down the canal bed and then it is continued with
permissible slope is called canal fall structure or simply canal fall. These energy dissipating
structures ae provided in hill roads where the bed slope of existing drainage way is very high and
are provided both upstream and downstream of the cross-drainage structure. The main hydraulic

13. 7
design problem is to determine the minimum permissible length of step. The bed of slope is kept
horizontal and the height and number of drop structures is site dependent.
Figure 11: Fall or Drop structure
7. Railway Track
Rail transport is a means of transferring passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on
rails, which are located on tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a
prepared flat surface, rail vehicles are directionally guided by the tracks on which they run. Tracks
usually consist of steel rails, installed on sleepers set in ballast, on which the rolling stock, usually
fitted with metal wheels, moves.
7.1 Observations
The only Railway of Nepal is from Janakpur to Jayanagar of 18km length. We observed the
Railway track at curve no. 12. The track consisted of steel rails, with ballasts rocks.
Figure 12: Railway Track

14. 8
8. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION
In this way, our field visit was successfully completed with proper achievement of all our
objectives that we were destined to accomplish. Hence the field visit was a success.
Transportation plays an important role in the country’s economy. Hence, proper operation and
maintenance of every components of the system is vital and a small hurdle in the working can be
proved a much disadvantageous. Thus, proper care should be taken for proper functioning of the
transportation system.
Therefore, at the end, we got embellished with the practical knowledge about hill roads and their
structures making us visualize the theoretical knowledge. Thus, the obtained knowledge is proved
to be beneficial in adding up the knowledge about transportation engineering.
9. RECOMMENDATIONS
i. Proper maintenance of culverts and drains is required for proper collection and
transmitting of water safely
ii. The debris in drains should be removed and proper maintenance work should be done.
iii. Proper periodic check and maintenance of pavement is required.
iv. The concerned authorities should be well aware about the problems and work for
mitigating them.
v. Local people should also be alert and active
10. REFERENCES
i. Shrestha, D.K. and Marsani, A. (2014). Transportation Engineering: Volume – I.
Kathmandu: Divine Print Support.
ii. Khanna, S.K. and Justo, C.E.G. (2010). Highway Engineering. Roorkee 247 667: Nem
Chand & Bros.
iii. https://dreamcivil.com/breast-wall
iv. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retaining_wall
v. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Highway