Sample questions

1. Group index method of design of flexible pavement is

(A) A theoretical method

(B) An empirical method based on physical properties of sub-grade soil
(C) An empirical method based on strength characteristics of sub-grade soil
(D) A semi empirical method

2. Los Angeles testing machine is used to conduct

(A) Abrasion test

(B) Impact test
(C) Attrition test
(D) Crushing strength test

3. When the width of car parking space and width of street are limited, generally preferred
parking system is

(A) Parallel parking

(B) 45° angle parking
(C) 65° angle parking
(D) 90° angle parking

4. When the bituminous surfacing is done on already existing black top road or over existing
cement concrete road, the type of treatment given is

(A) Seal coat

(B) Tack coat
(C) Prime coat
(D) Spray of emulsion
5. In the penetration macadam construction, the bitumen is

(A) Sprayed after the aggregates are spread and compacted

(B) Premixed with aggregates and then spread
(C) Sprayed before the aggregates are spread and compacted
(D) None of the above

6. The drain which is provided parallel to roadway to intercept and divert the water from hill
slopes is known as

(A) Sloping drain

(B) Catch-water drain
(C) Side drain
(D) Cross drain

7. The function of an expansion joint in rigid pavements is to

(A) Relieve warping stresses

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Sample questions
(B) Relieve shrinkage stresses
(C) Resist stresses due to expansion
(D) Allow free expansion

8. Select the correct statement.

(A) More the value of group index, less thickness of pavement will be required
(B) More the value of CBR, greater thickness of pavement will be required
(C) Minimum and maximum values of group index can be 0 and 20 respectively
(D) All of the above

9. Penetration test on bitumen is used for determining its

(A) Grade
(B) Viscosity
(C) Ductility
(D) Temperature susceptibility

10. In soils having same values of plasticity index, if liquid limit is increased, then

(A) Compressibility and permeability decrease and dry strength increases

(B) Compressibility, permeability and dry strength decrease
(C) Compressibility, permeability and dry strength increase
(D) Compressibility and permeability increase and dry strength decreases

11. The critical combination of stresses for corner region in cement concrete roads is

(A) Load stress + warping stress frictional stress

(B) Load stress + warping stress + frictional stress
(C) Load stress + warping stress
(D) Load stress + frictional stress

12. In highway construction, rolling starts from

(A) Sides and proceed to center

(B) Center and proceed to sides
(C) One side and proceed to other side
(D) Any of the above

13. The most economical lighting layout which is suitable for narrow roads is

(A) Single side lighting

(B) Staggered system
(C) Central lighting system
(D) None of the above

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Sample questions
14. The ideal shape of a transition curve, is

(A) Clothoid
(B) Cubic spiral
(C) Cubic parabola
(D) Lamniscate

15. The full width of land acquired before finalizing a highway, alignment is known

(A) Width of formation

(B) Right of way
(C) Carriage way
(D) Roadway

16. Any gradient on a road is said to be an exceptional gradient, if it is

(A) More than ruling gradient

(B) Less than average gradient
(C) More than floating gradient
(D) Less than minimum gradient or more than maximum gradient

17. During last phase of the reconnaissance, details of the grade line is recorded on 2 metre
poles to indicate

(A) Direction of the proposed alignment

(B) Distance between the previous and forward pegs
(C) Relative elevations of pegs
(D) All the above
18. The most suitable equipment for compacting clayey soils is a

(A) Smooth wheeled roller

(B) Pneumatic tyred roller
(C) Sheep foot roller
(D) Vibrator

19. The point that should not be considered for a better highway is?
(A) Smooth alignment
(B) Small right of way
(C) Flat slopes
( D) Suitable plantation

20. Three points A, B and C 500 m apart on a straight road have 500 m, 505 m and 510 m as
their reduced levels. The road is said to have

(A) No gradient between A and C

(B) A positive gradient between A and C
(C) A negative gradient between A and C
(D) A negative gradient between A and B

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Sample questions

21. The minimum design speed of various types of highways in plain terrain is the same as
the ruling design speed of
(A) Rolling terrain
(B) Mountainous terrain
(C) Steep terrain
(D) None of these

22. Excessive camber on pavements may cause

(A) Deterioration of central portion

(B) Slip of the speedy vehicles towards the edges
(C) Erosion of the berms
(D) All the above

23. In hill roads the side drains are provided

(A) Only on the hill side of road

(B) Only on the opposite side of hill
(C) On both sides of road
(D) None of the above
24. Selection of the routes, of highways depends upon

(A) Feasibility of attaining ruling gradient

(B) Avoidance of cutting hard rocks
(C) Minimum number of bridges
(D) All the above
25. Maximum number of vehicles that can pass a given point on a lane during one hour
without creating unreasonable delay, is known as

(A) Traffic density of lane

(B) Basic capacity of lane
(C) Probable capacity of lane
(D) Practical capacity of lane

26. Pick up the correct statement from the following:

(A) Minimum desirable width of medians on rural highways is 5 meters

(B) Minimum width of medians should be 3 meters
(C) On long bridges and viaducts, the width of medians should be 1.5 m
(D) All the above

27. Pick up the correct statement from the following:

(A) The cross fall of the shoulder should be at least 0.5% steeper than camber
(B) On super-elevated sections, the shoulders should be provided a cross fall equal to camber

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Sample questions
(C) Earthen roads in general are provided steepest cross-fall
(D) All the above

28. Design of horizontal curves on highways, is based on

(A) Design speed of vehicles

(B) Permissible friction on the road surface
(C) Permissible centrifugal ratio
(D) All the above
29. Set-back distance is the distance between

(A) Road land boundary and building line

(B) Road land boundary and control line
(C) Building line and control line
(D) Road land boundary and control line

30. The compensation for loss of land in agricultural areas should be paid __________
a) During the planning stage
b) Before construction of highway
c) After completion of the highway
d) Not required

31. Speed regulations on roads is decided on the basis of

(A) 60 percentile cumulative frequency

(B) 75 percentile cumulative frequency
(C) 80 percentile cumulative frequency
(D) 85 percentile cumulative frequency

32. At intersection of roads, the traffic volume study is carried out to ascertain the number
of vehicles

(A) Moving along straights

(B) Turning left
(C) Turning right
(D) All the above

33. Flexible pavement distribute the wheel load

(A) Directly to sub-grade

(B) Through structural action
(C) Through a set of layers to the sub-grade
(D) None of the above

34. The most commonly adopted method to provide super-elevation on roads, is by pivoting
the road surface about

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Sample questions
(A) Outer edge so that the inner edge is lowered
(B) Crown so that outer edge is raised and inner edge is lowered
(C) Inner edge so that outer edge is raised
(D) None of these

35. When load is applied on concrete pavement

(A) Away from edges, the maximum bending moment is negative

(B) Away from edges, the maximum bending moment cause compression
(C) On the edges, the maximum stress is parallel to the edge of the slab
(D) None of these

36. The fundamental factor in the selection of pavement type is

(A) Climatic condition

(B) Type and intensity of traffic
(C) Sub-grade soil and drainage conditions
(D) Availability of funds for the construction project

37. Pick up the correct statement from the following:

(A) Various geometric design features and generally guided by ruling design speed
(B) The design speed for a given highway should preferably be uniform
(C) Abrupt change in the design speed should not be permitted
(D) All the above
38. For the construction of water bound macadam roads, the correct sequence of operations
after spreading coarse aggregates is

(A) Dry rolling, wet rolling, application of screening and application of filler
(B) Dry rolling, application of filler, wet rolling and application of screening
(C) Dry rolling, application of screening, wet rolling and application of filler
(D) Dry rolling, application of screening, application of filler and wet rolling

39. In case of a multi-lane road, overtaking is generally permitted

(A) From right

(B) From left
(C) From both sides right and left
(D) Not at all

40. Which of these is classified as road furniture:

(A) Earthworks
(B) Base layer
(C) Subbase-Layer
(D) Guardrails

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Sample questions
41. The walls which are necessary on the hill side of roadway where earth has to be retained
from slipping is known as

(A) Retaining wall

(B) Breast wall
(C) Parapet wall
(D) None of the above

42. If cross slope of a country is greater than 60%, the terrain is classified as

(A) Rolling
(B) Mountainous
(C) Steep
(D) Plain

43. The pressing problems on the existing highway are __________

a) Encroachment
b) Ribbon development
c) Both encroachment and ribbon development
d) Traffic

44. The length of a transition curve, is governed by :

(A) Rate of change of radial acceleration

(B) Rate of change of super-elevation
(C) Both (a) and (b)
(D) Neither (a) nor (b)

45. Which of the following class of roads is under the mandate of KeNHA?
(A) Class A
(B) Class B
(C) Class S
(D) All the above

46. Under which State Department does KeNHA belong?

(A) State Department of Transport

(B) State Department of Housing
(C) State Department of Infrastructure
(D) None of the above.

47. What is the name of the agency responsible for the development, rehabilitation,
management and maintenance of all the Kenya National Trunk Roads comprising of
Classes S, A, and B roads?

(A) KeRRA
(B) KURA
(C) KeNHA
(D) None of the above

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Sample questions

48. Pavement is said to be flexible if it contains:

(A) Water bound macadam surface

(B) Stabilized soil base constructed of lime cement or tar
(C) Bitumen-bound stone layer of varying aggregates
(D) All the above

49. Hill roads are

(A) Provided camber along spur curves

(B) Provided camber along valley curves
(C) Seldom provided a camber
(D) None of these

50. What is the title of the overall Boss of Kenya National Highways (KeNHA) Region?

(A) Resident Director

(B) Regional Engineer
(C) Regional Director
(D) Senior Director

51. What is the title of the overall boss of Kenya National Highways authority?

(A) Highways Engineer

(B) Regional Director
(C) Director General
(D) Resident Engineer

52. Tie bars in cement concrete pavements are at

(A) Expansion joints

(B) Contraction joints
(C) Warping joints
(D) Longitudinal joints

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