Transportation Engineering and Highway Design MCQs 2026

Subgrade is

1. A Top wearing course ✓
2. B Bridge deck ✓
3. C Prepared natural soil beneath pavement ✓
4. D Traffic signal ✓

CBR test measures

1. A Bitumen penetration ✓
2. B Strength of subgrade soil ✓
3. C Concrete compressive strength ✓
4. D Wind speed at airport ✓

Rigid pavement main structural layer is

1. A Portland cement concrete slab ✓
2. B Only chip seal ✓
3. C Only subgrade soil ✓
4. D Only geotextile ✓

Flexible pavement primary load spreading layer is

1. A Plain cement concrete slab only ✓
2. B Steel rail ✓
3. C Gravel without binding ✓
4. D Bituminous surface and base ✓

Formation width comprises

1. A Only pavement thickness ✓
2. B Carriageway plus shoulders and medians if any ✓
3. C Only drainage pipe diameter ✓
4. D Only signboard area ✓

Preliminary survey provides

1. A Only soil colour map ✓
2. B Only property tax data ✓
3. C Only rainfall only ✓
4. D Alignment and profile for detailed design ✓

Reconnaissance survey selects

1. A Pavement mix formula only ✓
2. B Bridge reinforcement detail only ✓
3. C General route corridor ✓
4. D Traffic signal phasing only ✓

Earthwork mass haul diagram balances

1. A Cut and fill volumes ✓
2. B Traffic ESAL ✓
3. C Signal timing ✓
4. D Bridge bearings ✓

Stopping distance increases with

1. A Lower speed only ✓
2. B Higher speed and wet pavement ✓
3. C Dry pavement always decreases it ✓
4. D Flat grade always halves it ✓

Coefficient of lateral friction used in superelevation design is about

1. A 1.0 ✓
2. B 0.0 ✓
3. C 0.15 for highway design ✓
4. D 0.9 ✓

Widening on horizontal curves compensates for

1. A Increased ESAL only ✓
2. B Reduced rainfall ✓
3. C Higher CBR ✓
4. D Off-tracking of long vehicles ✓

Pavement deflection testing uses

1. A Penetration needle for bitumen only ✓
2. B Seismic accelerometer only ✓
3. C Benkelman beam or FWD ✓
4. D Wind vane only ✓

Bituminous base course typically uses

1. A Plain mud ✓
2. B Uncured cement slurry only ✓
3. C Rail ballast only ✓
4. D Dense graded hot mix asphalt ✓

Prime coat is applied to

1. A Granular base before bituminous layer ✓
2. B Finished wearing course ✓
3. C Bridge parapet ✓
4. D Traffic sign face ✓

Tack coat purpose is

1. A Drainage of subgrade ✓
2. B Increase road width ✓
3. C Paint lane lines ✓
4. D Bond between bituminous layers ✓

Axle load survey is needed for

1. A Selecting road name ✓
2. B Estimating design traffic loading ✓
3. C Choosing toll rates only ✓
4. D Bridge paint colour ✓

Highway alignment balances

1. A Economy safety and environmental factors ✓
2. B Only shortest distance always ✓
3. C Only maximum gradient always ✓
4. D Only urban aesthetics only ✓

Amber clearance time depends on

1. A Bridge span only ✓
2. B Subgrade CBR only ✓
3. C Wind rose only ✓
4. D Approach speed and intersection width ✓

All-red interval in signal timing provides

1. A Extra green for all ✓
2. B Permanent stop ✓
3. C Clearance before next green ✓
4. D Pedestrian prohibition always ✓

Pavement design factor NOT directly used in empirical methods

1. A Traffic loading ESALs ✓
2. B Driver age distribution ✓
3. C Subgrade strength ✓
4. D Material layer coefficients ✓

Granular sub-base in flexible pavement provides

1. A Only decorative surface ✓
2. B Only paint marking ✓
3. C Drainage and load spreading ✓
4. D Only noise barrier ✓

Warrant for traffic signals considers

1. A Volume pedestrian and safety criteria ✓
2. B Only pavement type ✓
3. C Only road name ✓
4. D Only toll revenue ✓

Rotary intersection suits

1. A Very high fast traffic on all legs ✓
2. B Moderate traffic with roughly equal legs ✓
3. C Zero traffic ✓
4. D Railway crossing only ✓

Peak Hour Factor adjusts

1. A Design speed to gradient ✓
2. B CBR to ESAL ✓
3. C Hourly volume to peak 15-minute flow ✓
4. D Sight distance to camber ✓

Level of Service LOS describes

1. A Quality of traffic flow ✓
2. B Pavement colour quality ✓
3. C Bridge architectural grade ✓
4. D Soil plasticity only ✓

Traffic capacity of highway lane in ideal conditions can reach about

1. A 50 pcu/hour ✓
2. B 2000 to 2400 pcu/hour ✓
3. C 10000 pcu/hour always ✓
4. D 100 pcu/hour ✓

ESAL stands for

1. A Estimated Speed At Limit ✓
2. B Extra Surface Area Layer ✓
3. C Elastic Strain And Load ✓
4. D Equivalent Single Axle Load ✓

Journey speed versus running speed

1. A They are always identical ✓
2. B Running includes parking time ✓
3. C Journey includes delays running excludes stops ✓
4. D Journey excludes travel time ✓

Spot speed study uses

1. A Only origin-destination interview ✓
2. B Only soil sampling ✓
3. C Only rainfall gauge ✓
4. D Radar or loop detector at point ✓

Origin-destination study identifies

1. A Trip patterns between zones ✓
2. B Bitumen grade only ✓
3. C Concrete cube strength only ✓
4. D Wind direction only ✓

Basic freeway segment capacity assumes

1. A Signal every 100 m ✓
2. B Mixed bullock carts only ✓
3. C Unpaved surface ✓
4. D No lateral obstructions and free flow ✓

Pavement roughness affects

1. A Seismic zone only ✓
2. B User comfort and vehicle operating cost ✓
3. C Harbour tide only ✓
4. D Railway gauge only ✓

Skid resistance of pavement is tested by

1. A CBR apparatus ✓
2. B Liquid limit device ✓
3. C British pendulum or sand patch ✓
4. D Proctor hammer only ✓

Rural road design in Pakistan often follows

1. A No standards ✓
2. B NHA and provincial design standards ✓
3. C Only airport ICAO ✓
4. D Only railway RDSO only ✓

Median on divided highway improves

1. A Safety by separating opposing traffic ✓
2. B Drainage of subgrade only ✓
3. C Bitumen oxidation only ✓
4. D Pedestrian shopping access ✓

Shy distance on curves relates to

1. A Vertical sag only ✓
2. B ESAL only ✓
3. C Signal cycle only ✓
4. D Lateral clearance to obstacles ✓

Hairpin bend design in mountains needs

1. A Maximum highway speed always ✓
2. B No superelevation ✓
3. C Small radius with transition and warning signs ✓
4. D Zero sight distance ✓

Extra widening formula includes terms for

1. A Only ESAL and CBR ✓
2. B Mechanical widening and psychological widening ✓
3. C Only wind load ✓
4. D Only toll collection ✓

Pavement life cycle cost includes

1. A Only paint cost ✓
2. B Only signage font ✓
3. C Initial construction and maintenance costs ✓
4. D Only land title fee ✓

Traffic impact assessment is required for

1. A Only interior painting ✓
2. B Only garden design ✓
3. C Only roof waterproofing ✓
4. D Major developments affecting road network ✓

Intelligent Transport Systems may include

1. A Variable message signs and incident detection ✓
2. B Only manual flag control always ✓
3. C Only horse carts ✓
4. D Only railway signals ✓

Motorway access control means

1. A Unlimited driveways ✓
2. B Pedestrian crossings every 100 m ✓
3. C Limited entry and exit at interchanges only ✓
4. D Open frontage development ✓

Service road parallel to motorway serves

1. A High speed through traffic ✓
2. B Local access and frontage properties ✓
3. C Aircraft landing ✓
4. D Ship berthing ✓

Pavement rut depth indicates

1. A Elastic recovery only ✓
2. B Bridge deflection only ✓
3. C Wind erosion only ✓
4. D Permanent deformation in wheel paths ✓

Reflective pavement markers improve

1. A Night time lane guidance ✓
2. B Subgrade CBR ✓
3. C Dam spillway capacity ✓
4. D Railway cant ✓

Highway drainage includes

1. A Only superelevation ✓
2. B Only signal timing ✓
3. C Crown drains culverts and side drains ✓
4. D Only axle load only ✓

Cut slope stability in road projects requires

1. A Only traffic count ✓
2. B Geotechnical investigation and benching ✓
3. C Only paint schedule ✓
4. D Only signal warrants ✓

Bituminous wearing course function is

1. A Subgrade compaction ✓
2. B Foundation bearing ✓
3. C Bridge cable stay ✓
4. D Smooth skid-resistant surface ✓

Geometric design for bus stops on urban arterials considers

1. A Bay layout and sight distance ✓
2. B Only harbour fender ✓
3. C Only dam freeboard ✓
4. D Only railway sleeper ✓

Rest area spacing on long Pakistani motorways considers

1. A Only agricultural seasons ✓
2. B Only river sediment ✓
3. C Only airport crosswind ✓
4. D Driver fatigue and fuel services ✓

Weight-in-motion WIM stations measure

1. A Bitumen softening point ✓
2. B Concrete slump ✓
3. C Axle weights at highway speed ✓
4. D Groundwater depth only ✓

Pavement recycling methods include

1. A Hot in-place and cold in-place recycling ✓
2. B Only complete landfilling of road ✓
3. C Only rail ballast tamping ✓
4. D Only dredging ✓

Design exception documents

1. A Random design change without review ✓
2. B Approved deviation from standards with justification ✓
3. C Only contractor invoice ✓
4. D Only paint colour change ✓

Conflict point at unsignalized intersection is

1. A Only toll booth ✓
2. B Only railway station ✓
3. C Location where paths cross merge or diverge ✓
4. D Only dam gallery ✓

Traffic calming measures include

1. A Speed humps chicanes and narrowing ✓
2. B Higher speed limits always ✓
3. C Removal of all pedestrians ✓
4. D Unlimited parking on carriageway ✓

Design hourly volume DHV is typically

1. A Minimum hourly volume ✓
2. B 30th highest hourly volume of year ✓
3. C Average of all hours only ✓
4. D Peak 15 seconds only ✓

NHA Pakistan administers

1. A Only urban parks ✓
2. B Only airport runways ✓
3. C Only harbour berths ✓
4. D National highways and motorways ✓

Design speed on highways primarily affects

1. A Geometric design elements ✓
2. B Only pavement colour ✓
3. C Only toll plaza location ✓
4. D Only road signs font ✓

Stopping sight distance depends on

1. A Only vehicle colour ✓
2. B Perception-reaction distance and braking distance ✓
3. C Only lane width ✓
4. D Only guardrail height ✓

Overtaking sight distance is required on

1. A One-way urban streets only ✓
2. B Parking lots only ✓
3. C Railway platforms ✓
4. D Two-lane two-way roads ✓

Intermediate sight distance is usually

1. A Equal to SSD ✓
2. B Half of SSD ✓
3. C Twice stopping sight distance ✓
4. D Ten times SSD ✓

Horizontal curve radius is increased when

1. A Design speed decreases ✓
2. B Traffic volume is zero ✓
3. C Road is unpaved ✓
4. D Design speed increases ✓

Superelevation on curves counteracts

1. A Gravity only ✓
2. B Wind load on bridges ✓
3. C Centrifugal force on vehicle ✓
4. D Axle load repetition ✓

Maximum superelevation in plain terrain per Pakistani practice is about

1. A 7 to 10 percent ✓
2. B 50 percent ✓
3. C 0 percent always ✓
4. D 25 percent ✓

Transition curve is provided to

1. A Eliminate all sight distance ✓
2. B Gradually introduce superelevation and curvature ✓
3. C Replace vertical curves ✓
4. D Stop overtaking ✓

Vertical curve summit type is used when

1. A Grade changes from positive to negative ✓
2. B Grade changes negative to positive ✓
3. C Road is horizontal only ✓
4. D Bridge starts ✓

K-value in vertical curve design relates to

1. A Pavement thickness only ✓
2. B CBR of subgrade ✓
3. C Sight distance and algebraic grade change ✓
4. D Traffic signal cycle ✓

Ruling gradient on highways in hilly areas of Pakistan is about

1. A 20 percent ✓
2. B 0.5 percent ✓
3. C 15 percent ✓
4. D 5 to 6 percent ✓

Exceptional gradient may be allowed up to about

1. A 30 percent ✓
2. B 7 to 8 percent for short length ✓
3. C 1 percent ✓
4. D 0 percent ✓

Minimum gradient on roads is provided for

1. A Drainage of surface water ✓
2. B Increasing ESAL ✓
3. C Reducing sight distance ✓
4. D Eliminating camber ✓

Camber or cross fall on pavements is about

1. A 10 to 15 percent ✓
2. B 0 percent always ✓
3. C 2 to 3 percent ✓
4. D 20 percent ✓

Right of way width includes

1. A Only lane width ✓
2. B Only footpath ✓
3. C Only building setback ✓
4. D Carriageway shoulders and marginal land ✓

Overlay design addresses

1. A Structural and functional deficiencies ✓
2. B Only lane marking fade ✓
3. C Only sign replacement ✓
4. D Only toll plaza ✓

AASHTO green book influences

1. A Only railway gauge ✓
2. B Geometric design standards in practice ✓
3. C Only harbour dredging ✓
4. D Only dam spillway ✓

Traffic rotary capacity reduces when

1. A All roads are one-way ✓
2. B Pedestrians are absent ✓
3. C Pavement is rigid ✓
4. D Weaving length is insufficient ✓

Channelization at intersection

1. A Eliminates all conflicts automatically ✓
2. B Guides vehicles to proper lanes ✓
3. C Replaces pavement design ✓
4. D Measures CBR ✓

Grade separated intersection eliminates

1. A Cross conflicts at different levels ✓
2. B All turning movements at grade ✓
3. C Need for bridges ✓
4. D All pedestrian crossings always ✓

Climbing lane is added on upgrades to

1. A Increase gradient ✓
2. B Reduce sight distance ✓
3. C Separate slow heavy vehicles ✓
4. D Eliminate shoulders ✓

Design vehicle for Pakistani highways often includes

1. A Heavy commercial truck and bus ✓
2. B Only bicycle ✓
3. C Only motorcycle as sole design vehicle ✓
4. D Only aircraft ✓

PCU stands for

1. A Pavement Compaction Unit ✓
2. B Passenger Car Unit ✓
3. C Peak Capacity Utilization ✓
4. D Portland Cement Uniformity ✓