IRC recommendation – extra widening for hill roads (curve radius = 150 m) According to Indian Roads Congress practice, the additional carriageway width (extra widening) to be provided on hill roads at a horizontal curve of radius 150 m is approximately:

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: 0.5 m

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Vehicles require extra width on horizontal curves due to off-tracking and psychological clearance. On hill roads—where radii are often small and lane discipline is critical—IRC provides guidance for “extra widening.”



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Hill road with curve radius R = 150 m.
  • Conventional design vehicle and lane width per IRC rural road standards.
  • We seek the typical tabulated/derived extra widening.



Concept / Approach:
Extra widening W is the sum of mechanical widening (due to off-tracking) and psychological widening (driver comfort). For moderate radii around 150 m, the required extra width is modest but non-zero—commonly about 0.5 m per carriageway in practice for two-lane hill roads.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Recognize R = 150 m → moderate curvature.From standard practice/tables, select ≈ 0.5 m as typical extra width.Match the closest option → 0.5 m.



Verification / Alternative check:
Design tables using W = nl^2/(2R) + C (where n depends on lanes, l is wheelbase, C is psychological allowance) produce values near 0.5 m for this radius with typical parameters.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • 1.0–2.0 m: too large for R = 150 m under common lane widths and speeds.
  • 0.0 m: underestimates need; vehicles do off-track on curves.



Common Pitfalls:
Applying plain-terrain extra widening criteria to hill roads or ignoring psychological component at small radii.



Final Answer:
0.5 m

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