Roadway Design & Maintenance Flashcards
7 cards from real NETTCP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Roadway Design & Maintenance flashcards as text
What type of retaining wall relies on the weight of the wall itself and retained soil for stability against overturning?
Answer: Gravity retaining wall
A gravity retaining wall uses its own mass and the weight of soil bearing on it to resist overturning and sliding forces without reinforcement.
When designing roadway grades in New England, which factor is especially critical due to the regional climate?
Answer: Grade and drainage design to prevent ice accumulation and black ice formation
New England's freeze-thaw climate makes drainage and grade design critical to prevent water pooling that freezes into dangerous black ice conditions.
A highway agency is evaluating a section of roadway for mill and overlay. What pavement condition primarily DISQUALIFIES a section from this treatment?
Answer: Severe structural (alligator) cracking indicating base failure
Severe alligator cracking indicates base failure, meaning an overlay alone will not correct the structural deficiency and full-depth reclamation or reconstruction is needed.
What is the purpose of a rumble strip installed on the centerline of a two-lane highway?
Answer: To alert drowsy or inattentive drivers drifting across the centerline
Centerline rumble strips create audible and tactile warnings that alert drivers who drift across the centerline toward oncoming traffic.
Which drainage structure is BEST suited to pass a high-volume stream beneath a roadway while allowing natural stream-bed migration and wildlife passage?
Answer: Open-bottom arch culvert or bridge
Open-bottom arches or bridges preserve the natural stream bottom, accommodating stream migration and wildlife passage that closed culverts prevent.
In traffic calming design, which measure physically alters the roadway geometry to reduce vehicle speeds?
Answer: Speed table or raised crosswalk
Speed tables and raised crosswalks are vertical deflection devices that physically compel drivers to reduce speed, unlike signage which relies on driver compliance.
Under ADA requirements, what is the maximum running slope for a pedestrian access route within a transportation project?
Answer: 1:20 (5%)
ADA standards require pedestrian access routes to have a maximum running slope of 1:20 (5%) unless designed as a ramp with handrails.