Transportation Engineering and Highway Design MCQs 2026

Reconnaissance survey selects

1. APavement mix formula only✓
2. BBridge reinforcement detail only✓
3. CGeneral route corridor✓
4. DTraffic signal phasing only✓

Preliminary survey provides

1. AOnly soil colour map✓
2. BOnly property tax data✓
3. COnly rainfall only✓
4. DAlignment and profile for detailed design✓

Earthwork mass haul diagram balances

1. ACut and fill volumes✓
2. BTraffic ESAL✓
3. CSignal timing✓
4. DBridge bearings✓

Stopping distance increases with

1. ALower speed only✓
2. BHigher speed and wet pavement✓
3. CDry pavement always decreases it✓
4. DFlat grade always halves it✓

Coefficient of lateral friction used in superelevation design is about

1. A1.0✓
2. B0.0✓
3. C0.15 for highway design✓
4. D0.9✓

Widening on horizontal curves compensates for

1. AIncreased ESAL only✓
2. BReduced rainfall✓
3. CHigher CBR✓
4. DOff-tracking of long vehicles✓

Pavement deflection testing uses

1. APenetration needle for bitumen only✓
2. BSeismic accelerometer only✓
3. CBenkelman beam or FWD✓
4. DWind vane only✓

Cut slope stability in road projects requires

1. AOnly traffic count✓
2. BGeotechnical investigation and benching✓
3. COnly paint schedule✓
4. DOnly signal warrants✓

Bituminous wearing course function is

1. ASubgrade compaction✓
2. BFoundation bearing✓
3. CBridge cable stay✓
4. DSmooth skid-resistant surface✓

Geometric design for bus stops on urban arterials considers

1. ABay layout and sight distance✓
2. BOnly harbour fender✓
3. COnly dam freeboard✓
4. DOnly railway sleeper✓

Rest area spacing on long Pakistani motorways considers

1. AOnly agricultural seasons✓
2. BOnly river sediment✓
3. COnly airport crosswind✓
4. DDriver fatigue and fuel services✓

Weight-in-motion WIM stations measure

1. ABitumen softening point✓
2. BConcrete slump✓
3. CAxle weights at highway speed✓
4. DGroundwater depth only✓

Pavement recycling methods include

1. AHot in-place and cold in-place recycling✓
2. BOnly complete landfilling of road✓
3. COnly rail ballast tamping✓
4. DOnly dredging✓

Design exception documents

1. ARandom design change without review✓
2. BApproved deviation from standards with justification✓
3. COnly contractor invoice✓
4. DOnly paint colour change✓

Conflict point at unsignalized intersection is

1. AOnly toll booth✓
2. BOnly railway station✓
3. CLocation where paths cross merge or diverge✓
4. DOnly dam gallery✓

Traffic calming measures include

1. ASpeed humps chicanes and narrowing✓
2. BHigher speed limits always✓
3. CRemoval of all pedestrians✓
4. DUnlimited parking on carriageway✓

Design hourly volume DHV is typically

1. AMinimum hourly volume✓
2. B30th highest hourly volume of year✓
3. CAverage of all hours only✓
4. DPeak 15 seconds only✓

NHA Pakistan administers

1. AOnly urban parks✓
2. BOnly airport runways✓
3. COnly harbour berths✓
4. DNational highways and motorways✓

Formation width comprises

1. AOnly pavement thickness✓
2. BCarriageway plus shoulders and medians if any✓
3. COnly drainage pipe diameter✓
4. DOnly signboard area✓

Flexible pavement primary load spreading layer is

1. APlain cement concrete slab only✓
2. BSteel rail✓
3. CGravel without binding✓
4. DBituminous surface and base✓

Rigid pavement main structural layer is

1. APortland cement concrete slab✓
2. BOnly chip seal✓
3. COnly subgrade soil✓
4. DOnly geotextile✓

CBR test measures

1. ABitumen penetration✓
2. BStrength of subgrade soil✓
3. CConcrete compressive strength✓
4. DWind speed at airport✓

Subgrade is

1. ATop wearing course✓
2. BBridge deck✓
3. CPrepared natural soil beneath pavement✓
4. DTraffic signal✓

ESAL stands for

1. AEstimated Speed At Limit✓
2. BExtra Surface Area Layer✓
3. CElastic Strain And Load✓
4. DEquivalent Single Axle Load✓

Traffic capacity of highway lane in ideal conditions can reach about

1. A50 pcu/hour✓
2. B2000 to 2400 pcu/hour✓
3. C10000 pcu/hour always✓
4. D100 pcu/hour✓

Level of Service LOS describes

1. AQuality of traffic flow✓
2. BPavement colour quality✓
3. CBridge architectural grade✓
4. DSoil plasticity only✓

Peak Hour Factor adjusts

1. ADesign speed to gradient✓
2. BCBR to ESAL✓
3. CHourly volume to peak 15-minute flow✓
4. DSight distance to camber✓

Rotary intersection suits

1. AVery high fast traffic on all legs✓
2. BModerate traffic with roughly equal legs✓
3. CZero traffic✓
4. DRailway crossing only✓

Warrant for traffic signals considers

1. AVolume pedestrian and safety criteria✓
2. BOnly pavement type✓
3. COnly road name✓
4. DOnly toll revenue✓

All-red interval in signal timing provides

1. AExtra green for all✓
2. BPermanent stop✓
3. CClearance before next green✓
4. DPedestrian prohibition always✓

Amber clearance time depends on

1. ABridge span only✓
2. BSubgrade CBR only✓
3. CWind rose only✓
4. DApproach speed and intersection width✓

Pavement design factor NOT directly used in empirical methods

1. ATraffic loading ESALs✓
2. BDriver age distribution✓
3. CSubgrade strength✓
4. DMaterial layer coefficients✓

Granular sub-base in flexible pavement provides

1. AOnly decorative surface✓
2. BOnly paint marking✓
3. CDrainage and load spreading✓
4. DOnly noise barrier✓

Bituminous base course typically uses

1. APlain mud✓
2. BUncured cement slurry only✓
3. CRail ballast only✓
4. DDense graded hot mix asphalt✓

Prime coat is applied to

1. AGranular base before bituminous layer✓
2. BFinished wearing course✓
3. CBridge parapet✓
4. DTraffic sign face✓

Tack coat purpose is

1. ADrainage of subgrade✓
2. BIncrease road width✓
3. CPaint lane lines✓
4. DBond between bituminous layers✓

Axle load survey is needed for

1. ASelecting road name✓
2. BEstimating design traffic loading✓
3. CChoosing toll rates only✓
4. DBridge paint colour✓

Highway alignment balances

1. AEconomy safety and environmental factors✓
2. BOnly shortest distance always✓
3. COnly maximum gradient always✓
4. DOnly urban aesthetics only✓

Highway drainage includes

1. AOnly superelevation✓
2. BOnly signal timing✓
3. CCrown drains culverts and side drains✓
4. DOnly axle load only✓

Reflective pavement markers improve

1. ANight time lane guidance✓
2. BSubgrade CBR✓
3. CDam spillway capacity✓
4. DRailway cant✓

Pavement rut depth indicates

1. AElastic recovery only✓
2. BBridge deflection only✓
3. CWind erosion only✓
4. DPermanent deformation in wheel paths✓

Service road parallel to motorway serves

1. AHigh speed through traffic✓
2. BLocal access and frontage properties✓
3. CAircraft landing✓
4. DShip berthing✓

Motorway access control means

1. AUnlimited driveways✓
2. BPedestrian crossings every 100 m✓
3. CLimited entry and exit at interchanges only✓
4. DOpen frontage development✓

Intelligent Transport Systems may include

1. AVariable message signs and incident detection✓
2. BOnly manual flag control always✓
3. COnly horse carts✓
4. DOnly railway signals✓

Traffic impact assessment is required for

1. AOnly interior painting✓
2. BOnly garden design✓
3. COnly roof waterproofing✓
4. DMajor developments affecting road network✓

Pavement life cycle cost includes

1. AOnly paint cost✓
2. BOnly signage font✓
3. CInitial construction and maintenance costs✓
4. DOnly land title fee✓

Extra widening formula includes terms for

1. AOnly ESAL and CBR✓
2. BMechanical widening and psychological widening✓
3. COnly wind load✓
4. DOnly toll collection✓

Hairpin bend design in mountains needs

1. AMaximum highway speed always✓
2. BNo superelevation✓
3. CSmall radius with transition and warning signs✓
4. DZero sight distance✓

Shy distance on curves relates to

1. AVertical sag only✓
2. BESAL only✓
3. CSignal cycle only✓
4. DLateral clearance to obstacles✓

Median on divided highway improves

1. ASafety by separating opposing traffic✓
2. BDrainage of subgrade only✓
3. CBitumen oxidation only✓
4. DPedestrian shopping access✓

Rural road design in Pakistan often follows

1. ANo standards✓
2. BNHA and provincial design standards✓
3. COnly airport ICAO✓
4. DOnly railway RDSO only✓

Skid resistance of pavement is tested by

1. ACBR apparatus✓
2. BLiquid limit device✓
3. CBritish pendulum or sand patch✓
4. DProctor hammer only✓

Pavement roughness affects

1. ASeismic zone only✓
2. BUser comfort and vehicle operating cost✓
3. CHarbour tide only✓
4. DRailway gauge only✓

Basic freeway segment capacity assumes

1. ASignal every 100 m✓
2. BMixed bullock carts only✓
3. CUnpaved surface✓
4. DNo lateral obstructions and free flow✓

Origin-destination study identifies

1. ATrip patterns between zones✓
2. BBitumen grade only✓
3. CConcrete cube strength only✓
4. DWind direction only✓

Spot speed study uses

1. AOnly origin-destination interview✓
2. BOnly soil sampling✓
3. COnly rainfall gauge✓
4. DRadar or loop detector at point✓

Journey speed versus running speed

1. AThey are always identical✓
2. BRunning includes parking time✓
3. CJourney includes delays running excludes stops✓
4. DJourney excludes travel time✓

PCU stands for

1. APavement Compaction Unit✓
2. BPassenger Car Unit✓
3. CPeak Capacity Utilization✓
4. DPortland Cement Uniformity✓

Design vehicle for Pakistani highways often includes

1. AHeavy commercial truck and bus✓
2. BOnly bicycle✓
3. COnly motorcycle as sole design vehicle✓
4. DOnly aircraft✓

Climbing lane is added on upgrades to

1. AIncrease gradient✓
2. BReduce sight distance✓
3. CSeparate slow heavy vehicles✓
4. DEliminate shoulders✓

Grade separated intersection eliminates

1. ACross conflicts at different levels✓
2. BAll turning movements at grade✓
3. CNeed for bridges✓
4. DAll pedestrian crossings always✓

Channelization at intersection

1. AEliminates all conflicts automatically✓
2. BGuides vehicles to proper lanes✓
3. CReplaces pavement design✓
4. DMeasures CBR✓

Traffic rotary capacity reduces when

1. AAll roads are one-way✓
2. BPedestrians are absent✓
3. CPavement is rigid✓
4. DWeaving length is insufficient✓

AASHTO green book influences

1. AOnly railway gauge✓
2. BGeometric design standards in practice✓
3. COnly harbour dredging✓
4. DOnly dam spillway✓

Overlay design addresses

1. AStructural and functional deficiencies✓
2. BOnly lane marking fade✓
3. COnly sign replacement✓
4. DOnly toll plaza✓

Right of way width includes

1. AOnly lane width✓
2. BOnly footpath✓
3. COnly building setback✓
4. DCarriageway shoulders and marginal land✓

Camber or cross fall on pavements is about

1. A10 to 15 percent✓
2. B0 percent always✓
3. C2 to 3 percent✓
4. D20 percent✓

Minimum gradient on roads is provided for

1. ADrainage of surface water✓
2. BIncreasing ESAL✓
3. CReducing sight distance✓
4. DEliminating camber✓

Exceptional gradient may be allowed up to about

1. A30 percent✓
2. B7 to 8 percent for short length✓
3. C1 percent✓
4. D0 percent✓

Ruling gradient on highways in hilly areas of Pakistan is about

1. A20 percent✓
2. B0.5 percent✓
3. C15 percent✓
4. D5 to 6 percent✓

K-value in vertical curve design relates to

1. APavement thickness only✓
2. BCBR of subgrade✓
3. CSight distance and algebraic grade change✓
4. DTraffic signal cycle✓

Vertical curve summit type is used when

1. AGrade changes from positive to negative✓
2. BGrade changes negative to positive✓
3. CRoad is horizontal only✓
4. DBridge starts✓

Transition curve is provided to

1. AEliminate all sight distance✓
2. BGradually introduce superelevation and curvature✓
3. CReplace vertical curves✓
4. DStop overtaking✓

Maximum superelevation in plain terrain per Pakistani practice is about

1. A7 to 10 percent✓
2. B50 percent✓
3. C0 percent always✓
4. D25 percent✓

Superelevation on curves counteracts

1. AGravity only✓
2. BWind load on bridges✓
3. CCentrifugal force on vehicle✓
4. DAxle load repetition✓

Horizontal curve radius is increased when

1. ADesign speed decreases✓
2. BTraffic volume is zero✓
3. CRoad is unpaved✓
4. DDesign speed increases✓

Intermediate sight distance is usually

1. AEqual to SSD✓
2. BHalf of SSD✓
3. CTwice stopping sight distance✓
4. DTen times SSD✓

Overtaking sight distance is required on

1. AOne-way urban streets only✓
2. BParking lots only✓
3. CRailway platforms✓
4. DTwo-lane two-way roads✓

Stopping sight distance depends on

1. AOnly vehicle colour✓
2. BPerception-reaction distance and braking distance✓
3. COnly lane width✓
4. DOnly guardrail height✓

Design speed on highways primarily affects

1. AGeometric design elements✓
2. BOnly pavement colour✓
3. COnly toll plaza location✓
4. DOnly road signs font✓