NICET - Highway Construction Inspection Practice Exam

Is Sta. 46+19 up-station or back-station from Sta. 86+00?

1. Up-station

2. Back-station

3. Equal station

4. Dependent on the direction of travel

The correct answer is: Back-station

To determine whether Sta. 46+19 is up-station or back-station from Sta. 86+00, it's important to understand the concept of stationing in highway construction. Stationing refers to a linear measurement along a construction project, typically expressed in feet or meters, where stations increase as one moves forward along the project. In this case, Sta. 86+00 indicates a position further along the alignment at 86 units. Sta. 46+19, however, represents a position earlier along the same alignment at 46 units and 19 hundredths of a unit. Since 46+19 is numerically less than 86+00, it is located before Sta. 86+00 on the alignment, thus qualifying it as a back-station relative to the higher station where Sta. 86+00 is located. Understanding this relationship is critical when considering the flow of traffic and the organization of construction activities, as it informs site management and inspection processes. Whenever points are referenced in relation to one another on a construction project, knowing which is upstream or downstream, or preceding or following, is fundamental for effective logistics and execution.