Vägform

Vägform is a term used in Swedish civil engineering that refers to the form and layout of a road—the intended geometric shape and surface configuration of the road from planning to construction. It encompasses how a road is laid out in plan and profile, how its cross-section accommodates traffic and drainage, and how the road interacts with the surrounding landscape and infrastructure.

Key elements include: horizontal alignment (centerline curves and sightlines), vertical alignment (gradients and crest curves), cross-section (lanes, shoulders, medians), and pavement structure (wearing course, base layers, subbase). The surface treatment may be asphalt, concrete, or composite pavements, and includes drainage features such as crown and side ditches.

Design and planning are guided by safety, capacity, and environmental considerations, as well as climate and maintenance requirements. In Sweden, vägform is defined within national road design standards and European norms, and is implemented by the national transport authority Trafikverket in collaboration with regional authorities.

Vägform evolves with technology and methods, including pavement performance modeling, asset management, and climate-resilient design. The term is often used together with vägbyggnad (road construction) and vägförvaltning (road management) to describe the physical road in contrast to its operation.