DESIGN OF LOW VOLUME ROAD IN DALLO MANNA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract Transportation by the road is the most used mode of transport in Ethiopia, especially in rural areas. However large portion of the rural residents are still isolated from the rest of the country due to lack of adequate road access. Only 37% of the sub districts (Kebele) are accessible by all season roads. Communities are often left isolated and without access, particularly during periods of rains. This excludes them from exposure to new ideas and influences. Most of rural population in Ethiopia still relies on pack animals as means of transportation and carrying goods to market places. Thus improving existing road infrastructures and construction of new roads will improve the living conditions of the citezens, especially the rural residents. Recently Ethiopia is renowened as one of the fastest growing nation in the worled. In order to sustain nation’s economic growth and reduce citezens poverty the government needs to address Ethiopia’s severe infrastructures constraints. Less road network is one of the challenges of of nation’s economic growth. To overcome the challenge, Ethiopia is implementing the Universal Rural Road Access Program (URRAP). It’s objective to free the rural residents from their access constraints and to connect all Kebele by allweather roads. Low volume roads typically carry less than 300 vehicles per day and may extend up to the regional and federal networks. The majority of the total road network of the country can be considered as low volume roads. Since 1993 such roads have been administered by Regional Roads Authorities and Weredas. This paper aims for design of 6km long rural road in Bale district connecting Nanniga Dhera village to main roads. This paper discus about surveying and leveling of proposed road, Traffic Data survey, Laboratory test of material of construction and designing of road based on Ethiopian Road Authority (ERA) manual.