Camber of Road

It is the slope provided to the road surface in the transverse direction to drain off the rain water from the road surface. Drainage and quick disposal of water from the pavement surface by providing camber is necessary for the following reasons:

1) To prevent the entry of surface water into the sub-grade soil through pavement: the stability, surface condition and the life of the pavement get adversely affected if the water enters the subgrade and the soil gets soaked.

2) To prevent the entry of water into the bituminous pavement layers, as continued contact with water causes stripping of bitumen from the aggregates and results in deterioration of the pavement layer.

3) To remove the rain water the pavement surface as quickly as possible to allow the pavement to get dry soon after the rain: the skid resistance of the pavement gets considerably decreased under wet condition, rendering it slippery and unsafe for vehicle operation at high speed.

Recommended Values of Road Camber

Sl. No	Type of Road	Recommended Camber
1	Earth road	1 in 20
2	Gravel road	1 in 24
3	Kankar road	1 in 24 to 1 in 30
4	Water bound macadam road	1 in 30 to 1 in 48
5	Bituminous road	1 in 48
6	Bituminous concrete sheet asphalt	1 in 60
7	Cement concrete roads	1 in 70 to 1 in 80
8	Paving etc.	1 in 48 to 1 in 60