Assessment and Geometric Design of the Highway Route from Gidami to Begi Using Eagle Point Software
Abstract
Road transport remains one of the most economical, accessible, and widely used modes of transportation, requiring relatively low investment while significantly enhancing the aesthetic appeal and functionality of urban and rural areas. A well-designed road network is fundamental to the efficient movement of people, goods, and industrial products, thereby serving as a critical catalyst for socio-economic development. The foundational step in achieving high-quality road infrastructure is the selection of an optimal route, followed by meticulous geometric design—the process of arranging the road layout to satisfy user requirements, safety standards, and operational efficiency. Key design controls include topography, traffic volume, design speed, roadway capacity, design vehicle characteristics, and access management. The Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA) provides ten geometric design standards; based on the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT), ground slope, and road classification, Design Class 5 (DC5) was selected for this project. The critical problem addressed in this study is the complete absence of a properly designed road connecting Gidami to Begi, which severely restricts access to education, healthcare, markets, and other essential services for the local community. This research utilized Eagle Point software to process total station survey data and produce comprehensive design outputs, including plans, profiles, curve data, coordinate tables, elevation models, contour maps, and mass haul diagrams. The project encompasses a total length of 52 kilometers from Gidami to Begi. Earthwork calculations revealed a total fill volume of 9,374.948 m 3 , a cut volume of 515.769 m 3 , a cut area of 2,675.811 m 2 , and a fill area of 45,145.11 m 2 . The complete geometric design includes horizontal and vertical alignments, cross-section elements, superelevation details, and sight distance analyses, all developed in strict accordance with the ERA Geometric Design Manual (2013).