What do vertical measurements on roadway cross-section sheets represent?

Vertical measurements on roadway cross-section sheets represent elevations, which indicate the height of the ground or structure in relation to a reference point, often sea level. These elevations are crucial for understanding how the roadway interacts with the surrounding terrain and for ensuring proper drainage, safety, and structural integrity.

Elevations help planners and engineers visualize how the road will be positioned above or below ground level, influencing design decisions regarding cut and fill operations, as well as ensuring compliance with design standards and regulations. Accurate elevation data is essential for construction, as it affects aspects such as the alignment of utilities, the slope of ditches, and the grading of soils.

While dimensions refer to lengths or widths, slopes describe the steepness of a surface, and gradients provide a ratio or percentage of rise over run, they do not specifically convey the vertical height relation that elevations do in roadway cross-section representations. This makes elevations the correct focus within the context of cross-section sheets as they directly inform about the vertical aspect necessary for roadway design and construction.