Vertical Curve for Highways (Ref: IRC: SP: 23-2001)

Table 1. Gradients For Roads in Different Terrains

Sl No Terrain Ruling Gradient Limiting Gradient Exceptional Gradient
3.3 per cent 5.0 per cent 6.7 per cent
1 Plain or Rolling
(1 in 30) (1 in 20) (1 in 15)
2 Mountainous Terrain and Steep Terrain Having 5.0 per cent 6.0 per cent 7.0 per cent
Elevation More Than 3000m above MSL (1 in 20) (1 in 16.7) (1 in 14.3)
6.0 per cent 7.0 per cent 8.0 per cent
3 Steep Terrain upto 3000m Hight above MSL
(1 in 16.7) (1 in 14.3) (1 in 12.5)
Ref IRC:SP:23-2001, P-4

Table 2. Design Speed for Rural (Non-Urban) Highways

Design Speed, kmph
Plain Terrain Rolling Terrain Mountainous Terrain Steep Terrain
Sl No Road Classification Ruling Min. Ruling Min. Ruling Min. Ruling Min.
Design Design Design Design Design Design Design Design
Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed
1 NH & SH 100 80 80 65 50 40 40 30
2 MDR 80 65 65 50 40 30 30 20
3 ODR 65 50 50 40 30 25 25 20
4 VR 50 40 40 30 25 20 25 20
Ref IRC:SP:23-2001, P-7

Table 3. Design Speed for Urban Roads in Plains Table 4. Sight Distance for Various Speeds
Design Speed Speed Sight Distance (metre)
Sl No Road Classification
kmph kmph SSD ISD OSD
1 Arterial 80 20 20 40 -
2 Sub-Arterial 60 25 25 50 -
3 Collector Streets 50 30 30 60 -
4 Local Streets 30 35 40 80 -
Ref IRC:SP:23-2001, P-7 40 45 90 165
50 60 120 235
Table 6. Length of Vertical Curves for Different Speeds When Length 60 80 160 300
of Curve is Greater Than Sight Distance 65 90 180 340
Speed Length of Summit Curve, m Length of Valley Curve 80 120 240 470
kmph SSD ISD OSD for HSD, m 100 180 360 640
20 0.9A 1.7A - 1.8A Ref IRC:SP:23-2001, P-8
25 1.4A 2.6A - 2.6A
30 2.0A 3.8A - 3.5A Table 7. Minimum Length of Vertical Curves
35 3.6A 6.7A - 5.5A Min.
6.6A Design Max Grade Change
40 4.6A 8.4A 28.4A Length of
Speed, (%) Not Requiring a
50 8.2A 15.0A 57.5A 10.0A Vertical
kmph Vertical Curve
15.0A Curve (m)
60 14.5A 26.7A 93.7A
65 18.4A 33.8A 120.4A 17.4A 35 1.5 15
80 32.6A 60.0A 230.1A 25.3A 40 1.2 20
100 73.6A 135.0A 426.7A 41.5A 50 1 30
Note: 60 0.8 40
1. 'A' in the above Table is the algebraic difference in grades expressed as 80 0.6 50
percentage
2. The length of curves should be subjected to minimum value given in 100 0.5 60
Table-7 Ref IRC:SP:23-2001, P-18
Ref IRC:SP:23-2001, P-8