Question

The width of the haul road in an opencast mine depends on

• A. Length of the dumper
• B. Width of the largest vehicle moving along haul road
• C. Number of dumpers moving
• D. Targeted production

Hint:

Think of it like designing a highway.
The width of a traffic lane is determined by the width of a standard car or truck, not by how many cars are on the road or how long the cars are.
The same logic applies to mine haul roads, just with much larger vehicles.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the primary physical parameter that determines the required width of a haul road in a surface mine.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The design of a haul road is critical for safety and efficiency.
The width of the road is determined by the need to safely accommodate the traffic that will use it.
The most fundamental design parameter is the size of the vehicles themselves.
Standard design guidelines for haul road width are based on the width of the

largest vehicle that will use the road.
For example, a common rule of thumb for a two-lane haul road is that the total width should be approximately 3.5 times the width of the widest truck.
This provides space for two trucks to pass each other safely, plus clearance on either side and a safety berm.
The other options are incorrect:
- The length of the dumper affects the turning radius at curves, but not the straight-section width.
- The number of dumpers and targeted production affect the traffic density and may influence the decision to build a two-lane vs. a four-lane road, but the fundamental width of each lane is still determined by the vehicle size.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The width of the haul road depends on the width of the largest vehicle moving along the haul road.
This corresponds to option (B).