Elements of cut and fill cross-section

A road on a hillside or sloping ground is built partly in cut (excavation into the hill) and partly in fill (embankment on the lower side). This is the usual section in hill roads, because it balances the earthwork.

         hill slope (natural ground)
              \
     catch     \ cut slope        carriageway
     drain      \   ____ side ___________ shoulder
        \  berm  \ /  drain      camber    \
  ground ---`----- \_|_______________________\ fill slope
                   |<---- formation width ---->\\
                   |                            \\ toe
                                             retaining/breast wall

Elements

1. Carriageway: the paved width for traffic, with camber (or inward slope on hill roads).
2. Shoulders: on both sides (1.0-1.5 m in hills), giving lateral support and space for emergency stop.
3. Formation width: carriageway + shoulders + side drain on the cut side.
4. Side (hill-side) drain: lined drain in the cut side for the surface water from the road and hill.
5. Cut slope (back slope): the excavated face; slope depends on soil/rock (e.g. 0.25:1 to 1:1 horizontal : vertical), with a berm (bench) in a high cut.
6. Catch water drain: above the cut slope to intercept the hill runoff.
7. Fill slope (embankment slope): side slope of fill, generally 1.5:1 to 2:1 (H:V) in earth; shown with toe protection.
8. Toe of the fill and toe wall / retaining wall: to stop the spreading, in steep ground.
9. Breast wall: at the cut side for vertical or unstable faces.
10. Benching: steps cut in the natural ground under the fill to bond the embankment.
11. Parapet / guard rail at the outer edge on high fill.
12. Right of way: total land acquired, including the slopes.
13. Bio-engineering (turfing, plants) for slope protection.