Abstract:
Roadside drainage channels perform the vital function of diverting or removing surface
water from the highway right-of-way. Effective side drains will reduce the need for
maintenance by preventing deterioration of the surface and will provide a drier and
hence safer road. They should provide the most efficient disposal system consistent with
cost, importance of the road, economy of maintenance, and legal requirements. This study
was needed, for the reason of study area road user’s and residents are suffering by the
problem of runoff that damage both pavements and resident’s properties, because of
inadequate roadside drainage.
The objective of the study was to evaluate roadside water drainage problems and come
up with remedial measures along the study area .The research study was focused on
Jimma to Agaro road section from April, 2016 to February2017. The data collected was
then be analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The purposive sampling techniques were
used to distribute questionnaires and in order to achieve the desired objective, a
systematic methodology was adopted which includes, analysis of hydraulic capacity for
existing side drains, field observation and questionnaires was carried out. The major
flood prone areas for the road side drainage problem are Yebu town, Bosa Addis keteme
kebele in Jimma Town, Mane worede Mantine kebele, Gembe town,and Agaro town
entrance by ascending order which were evidenced from the field observation. A number
of effects of poor roadside drainage were include flooding which destroys residents
property, dirtying the vehicle of the road users and pavement distress. Factors that have
contributed to problem of roadside drainage along the study area to a large extent are
increased presence of Garbage and polythene bags along the road, Construction of
unplanned houses, topography of the study area and insufficient discharge capacity of
existing roadside drains. Clean up all the existing roadside drainage, constructing
planned house and re construction roadside drainage with good hydraulic capacity can
mitigate this problem.
