kruispijlhelling

Kruispijlhelling is a term used in road design to describe the cross-slope of a roadway surface—the tilt of the pavement across the direction of traffic, perpendicular to the travel direction. The cross-slope directs water to the roadside or drainage trenches and influences surface drainage, skid resistance, and driving comfort.

The concept is typically expressed as a percentage or as an angle. Cross-slope is calculated as the rise over the run in the transverse direction, multiplied by 100 to yield a percent. An angle can be converted to a percentage using basic trigonometry. In practice, the cross-slope is specified to ensure adequate drainage while maintaining safety and comfort for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Common practice places kruispijlhelling values in a range that varies with road type and drainage requirements. Urban streets and bicycle facilities often use modest slopes, while roads in areas with heavy rainfall or limited drainage may employ steeper cross-slopes. In many design guides, typical cross-slopes lie roughly between 1% and 3%.

Measurement and quality control are performed during construction and maintenance. Methods include straight-edge and level checks, laser or total station surveys, and, increasingly, 3D road-scanning technologies. Tolerances are defined by local standards and can depend on section length, pavement type, and the presence of curbs or gutters. Deviations from the intended cross-slope are corrected during paving or resurfacing to maintain drainage performance and safety.

In practice, kruispijlhelling is closely related to the broader concept of dwarshelling (cross-slope) in Dutch civil engineering, and the terms are often used interchangeably in guidelines and specifications.