“ Moh’d Bin Rashid Al-Maktom Road ”

Design of the Western Part of Nablus Ring Road

Nablus – PalestineMay 2009

INTRODUCTION

Nablus city, one of the main commercial centers in the West Bank, suffers from high congestions in CBD because it lies between two mountains.

Nablus connects the northern cities (Jenin, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Haifa, etc.) and the southern cities (Ramallah, Jerusalem, Hebron, etc.).

The construction of a Ring Road around Nablus is essential for solving the congestions problem in Nablus CBD.

This project is concerned with the design of the Western Part of Nablus Ring Road.

The Western Part of Nablus Ring Road connects Nablus-

Qalqilya Street south west of Nablus City with Nablus-

Tulkarem Road in the west. It also extends to Asira Al-

Shamaliya Road north of Nablus connecting An-Najah

University New Campus with the University

Educational Hospital.

OBJECTIVES

Development of well planned and well connected urban built-up areas around the city.

Solve the congestions and delays that face the traffic movement to and from An-Najah University.

Data Collection and

Traffic Studies

Data Collection and

Traffic Studies

Design CriteriaDesign Criteria

Evaluation of Existing DesignEvaluation of Existing Design

Geometric DesignGeometric DesignCross Sections

Vertical Alignment

Horizontal Alignment

Design of Intersections

TCDTCD

ReportingReporting

RECONNAISSANCES

Examine the constructed and non

constructed segments of the road.

Snap pictures of the area from different

parts of the road, including the intersections

and critical sections.

Collect maps and drawings.

TRAFFIC STUDIES

Diverted Traffic

The traffic that diverts to the road from an alternative road with the same origin and destination.

Developed Traffic

The traffic that affect the volume after constructing the road or will be developed with time.

Natural Growth Traffic

The traffic forecasted for the design year, considering proper growth in traffic, normally 20 years from the project date.

DIVERTED TRAFFIC

The Western Traffic Directed to the New Campus of An-Najah National University:

Directional peak hour (PH) from 7:00 am – 8:00 am with PHV 120 veh/hr towards the University New campus.

University Employees Housing to and from An-Najah University:

Counted at 130 families, 50% go to the New Campus (PH=65 veh/hr).

Through Traffic Diverted to Use the Ring Road Towards Nablus East:

554 veh/hr towards Nablus (Counted at Zawata Intersection)

292 veh/hr through traffic at Faisal St.

10% DT Al-Quds St. (PH=56 veh/hr) / 5% towards Amman St. (PH=28veh/hr)

NEWLY DEVELOPED

Counted Traffic from nearby Residential Areas Intersection:

PH was formed to be from 7:00 am – 8:00 am with PHV 33 veh/hr.

Residential Trips Estimating:

North Segment 880 veh/hr South Segment 805 veh/hr

AL-Watani Hospital Trips Estimating:

Jenin = 26 veh/hr Tulkarem = 10 veh/hr Qalqilua = 15 veh/hr

An-Najah University Medical Complex Trips Estimation:

40 trip during PH

NATURAL GROWTH TRAFFIC

The annual traffic growth factor applied in this project is 2.53%

The annual population growth factor is applied, which is 3.5%

The University growth factor for the traffic volume is 1.2

1. The Western Traffic Directed to the New Campus of An-Najah National University.

2. Through Traffic Diverted to Use the Ring Road Estimate Towards Nablus East.

3. AL-Watani Hospital Trips Estimating.

4. An-Najah University Medical Complex Trips Estimation

FORCASTED TRAFFIC FLOW FOR 20 YEARS

THE EXISTING DESIGN

E = R (1/cos(∆/2) – 1)

Horizontal Alignment Evaluation

Reference Criteria

50 km/hr Rmin 80m

THE EXISTING DESIGN

Manual estimate for grades (G1, G2).

Manual estimate for lengths (L).

Calculate K K= (L/g2-g1)

Crest (min) k=7

Sag (min) k=13

Vertical Alignment Evaluation

THE EXISTING DESIGN

Limited radii of curves which aren’t suitable for design speed and the road classification.

Profiles has been drawn manually.

35% of distance of the road does not match the standards.

The slope is very high in some stations; up to 17%.

DESIGN CRITERIA

Urban Arterial Road (Two Lane per Direction).

Design speed 70 km/h

Min. Radius = 175m

e = 8%

Max. Grade = 9%

fs = 0.14

Design Vehicle WB-19

The level of service is “C”

PAVEMENT DESIGN

Design ESAL = 1.6 *106

CBR = 20%

SN = 2.2

Asphalt = 6 cm

Base Course = 20 cm

No Sub Base

CROSS SECTION STRUCTURE RESIDENTIAL AREA

TYPICAL CROSS SECTION (WITH SIDEWALKS)

FROM STATION 0+00.00 TO 8+00.00

FROM STATION 30+00.00 TO 49+11.39

CROSS SECTION STRUCTURE

NON RESIDENTIAL AREA

TYPICAL CROSS SECTION (WITH SHOULDERS)

FROM STATION 8+00.00 TO 30+00.00

QUANTITIES OF CONSTRUCTION ROAD

Alignment 1 Alignment 2

Cut (m3) 149,700.28 181,664.01

Fill (m3) 376,226.24 283,510.78

Asphalt (ton) 3,055.28 2,752

CONCLUSIONS

Decrease the congestion problem in Nablus CBD.

The proposed ring road route has rough terrain, which makes the design process more critical.

It was very difficult, even impossible, to meet the design requirements for a highway at the proposed ring road route and site. The topography of the site is very difficult and is not suitable.

It was necessary to fill few segments of the ring road by layers of rocks where the depths of fill are high and the side slopes do not align the existing ground level.

RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommend considering other alternative routes for the ring road that has less steep grades and less steep area. This will reduce the volume of cut and fill.

An alternative alignment (Align. 2) for the ring road has been considered and is recommended.

It is recommended to adopt surveying points as reference for the elevations and not to use the contours for the design. The surveying points available at Nablus Municipality were not made available.