Designing a Highway

Building a highway from start to finish involves much more than blasting and putting down pavement.

It's about identifying needs, getting public input, buying land and doing traffic studies. It's about using the latest engineering principles to build roads that meet the needs of the 21st century, of faster cars, heavier trucks and more vehicles.

"Highways are important for safety, as well as building a stronger economy and bringing communities together," said Michael Baker, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "They represent important investments in our provincial infrastructure, and they are expected to last 100 years or more."

Highway construction begins with an idea, called the initiation phase. The public and/or department staff identify a need for new highway work. Studies are conducted to determine the extent of work needed. Staff determines if a new highway should be built, or an existing highway twinned. Field data is collected, and the site surveyed.

Many factors are considered in the initial highway planning stage, including traffic volume, collision rates, safe driving speeds on existing roads, and location of the road in relation to urban centres.

The environmental impact stage considers how a proposed highway will affect the environment and identifies measures that can be taken to minimize or eliminate any negative impacts. This phase can last up to three years, depending on requirements set out by federal or provincial agencies and departments.

The design stage comes next, and it's often a lengthy process. Staff from the department's highway planning and design group consult provincial guidelines and standards set out by the Transportation Association of Canada. These standards ensure consistency throughout the province in highway design and help ensure that safe roads are built.

Public input is an important part of the design process. Suggestions from the public can result in changes to alignment and improvements to designs. Once staff recommend an alignment, an open house is held in the affected community. Staff talk about the proposed work and receive valuable feedback. They may also contact people affected by the proposal by letter or by placing advertisements in area newspapers.

Land is another issue -- purchases must often be made to supplement existing Crown right of ways. Typically, the department purchases land at a price set by an independent appraiser. All but a few cases are settled through negotiation.

The final design of a road is reviewed within the department and approved by management.

During the third stage -- construction -- the public sees results. Tenders are let for removal of trees. This job is followed by blasting and then subgrade work.

The final stage results in fresh asphalt and a new highway opened at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.