---
title: "Structure of route location process"
subject: "Transportation Engineering I"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_6/transportation_engineering_i:structure-route-location"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/structure-route-location
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Structure of route location process

Transportation Engineering I · Chapter 2: Highway Alignment and Engineering Survey

- Asked in: 2081 Ashwin, 3 marks; 2078 Poush, 4 marks; 2078 Baisakh, 4 marks; 2068 Magh (old course); 2065 Chaitra (old course), 2 marks (asked 5 times)
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/structure-route-location
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/chapter-2

## Question

Discuss the (sequential) structure of the highway route location process.

## Short answer

Highway route location funnels from region (whole area) to band (feasible strips) to corridor (narrow routes) to alignment (final centre line). Each step narrows the area and increases detail, using map study, reconnaissance, preliminary survey, and final location surveys respectively.

## Answer

Route location is done in a funnel-like sequence, moving from a large area to a single centre line. Each step narrows the area and increases the detail of the study.

```text
 Region  (whole area between terminals)
   |  map study, aerial photos
 Band    (feasible strips, obstacles removed)
   |  reconnaissance
 Corridor (probable narrow routes)
   |  preliminary survey
 Alignment (single centre line, final location)
```

1. **Region:** the whole area of interest between the two terminals, including the controls. Identified from small-scale maps.
2. **Band:** the part of the region left after eliminating zones with obstacles (mountains, big lakes, forests). Studied by maps and air photos.
3. **Corridor:** within the band, the narrower strips containing the likely alignments - width a few hundred metres to a few kilometres. Selected after reconnaissance.
4. **Alignment:** within the chosen corridor the exact centre line is fixed after preliminary and detailed surveys.

**Process steps:** (i) identify the terminals and obligatory points, (ii) map study, (iii) reconnaissance survey, (iv) preliminary survey, (v) final location/detailed survey, followed by design and cost estimate.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is the correct narrowing sequence in route location?
   A. Alignment, corridor, band, region
   B. Band, region, corridor, alignment
   C. Region, band, corridor, alignment
   D. Region, corridor, band, alignment
   Answer: C. The area narrows from region to band to corridor to a single alignment. (Key point: Funnel sequence)

2. How is the band obtained from the region?
   A. By removing zones with major obstacles like mountains, big lakes and forests
   B. By fixing the centre line with pegs
   C. By doing the preliminary survey
   D. By choosing the cheapest road
   Answer: A. The band is what remains of the region after eliminating obstacle zones, studied by maps and air photos. (Key point: Band)

3. Which survey stage selects the corridor from the band?
   A. Reconnaissance
   B. Final location
   C. Traffic survey
   D. Map study only
   Answer: A. After reconnaissance the narrow strips with likely alignments (the corridor) are chosen. (Key point: Corridor selection)

## Related in Transportation Engineering I

- [Principle and complexities of route location](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Alocation-principle-complexities) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 2
- [Route location in hill road design](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Ahill-route-location) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 5
- [River route location considerations](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Ariver-route-considerations) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 5, asked 2×
- [Final location and detailed survey](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Adetailed-survey) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 2, asked 3×

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