OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Free Road Grade and Storm Drain Exam Practice Questions

40 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

View examination details, outline and sources

Loading selected examination banks…

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Road Grade and Storm Drain Exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

  1. 1What is the normal maximum landing grade for the first 40 feet of a Maryland commercial entrance?

    1. A. 3%
    2. B. 4%
    3. C. 6%
    4. D. 8%

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The Access Manual states: "Grades in excess of 3% may not be allowed on the landing grade (first 40')."

    Reference: Mdot Access Ch3 — MDOT SHA Access Manual §3.2.1

  2. 2Which method does the current MDOT SHA Drainage Manual prescribe for storm-drain analysis and design?

    1. A. Rational Method
    2. B. NRCS hydrograph method
    3. C. Regional regression method
    4. D. Frequency-curve method

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The manual identifies the "Rational Method for storm drain analysis and design."

    Reference: MDOT SHA Drainage Manual — MDOT SHA Drainage Manual §2.3.1

  3. 3What design frequency does MDOT SHA specify for ordinary roadside, median, and interceptor ditches or swales?

    1. A. 2-year
    2. B. 5-year
    3. C. 10-year
    4. D. 25-year

    Answer: C

    Explanation: Table 3-1 assigns a "10-year" frequency to roadside, median, and interceptor ditches or swales.

    Reference: MDOT SHA Drainage Manual — MDOT SHA Drainage Manual Table 3-1

  4. 4What minimum percentage of design-storm flow must an MDOT SHA inlet on grade intercept?

    1. A. 70%
    2. B. 75%
    3. C. 85%
    4. D. 90%

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The current manual says: "Place and size inlets on grade to intercept a minimum 70% of flow for the design storm."

    Reference: MDOT SHA Drainage Manual — MDOT SHA Drainage Manual §5.3.3

  5. 5An MDOT SHA storm drain would connect to a downstream system lacking design-discharge capacity. What must the designer determine?

    1. A. Whether the connection is practicable
    2. B. Whether the upstream pipe can be shortened
    3. C. Whether the downstream owner will waive review
    4. D. Whether the Rational Method can be omitted

    Answer: A

    Explanation: For inadequate downstream facilities, "the designer must determine the practicability of connecting to these downstream systems."

    Reference: MDOT SHA Drainage Manual — MDOT SHA Drainage Manual §5.3.1

  6. 6Beyond a commercial entrance's landing grade, what maximum grade applies for the next 40 feet?

    1. A. 3%
    2. B. 6%
    3. C. 8%
    4. D. 10%

    Answer: B

    Explanation: Beyond the landing, grades "may not exceed 6% for a distance of 40'" under §2.3.1.

    Reference: Mdot Access Ch2 — MDOT SHA Access Manual §2.3.1(2)

  7. 7What minimum time of concentration does MDOT SHA require when the Rational Method is used?

    1. A. 3 minutes
    2. B. 5 minutes
    3. C. 6 minutes
    4. D. 10 minutes

    Answer: B

    Explanation: The manual states: "The minimum time of concentration is 5 minutes for rational method calculations."

    Reference: MDOT SHA Drainage Manual — MDOT SHA Drainage Manual §2.5.1

  8. 8What minimum freeboard does MDOT SHA require for an ordinary roadside ditch in open section?

    1. A. 6 inches below the shoulder edge
    2. B. 9 inches below the shoulder edge
    3. C. 12 inches below the shoulder edge
    4. D. 18 inches below the shoulder edge

    Answer: B

    Explanation: Table 3-1 specifies "9 inches" of freeboard below the shoulder edge for an ordinary roadside ditch in open section.

    Reference: MDOT SHA Drainage Manual — MDOT SHA Drainage Manual Table 3-1

  9. 9What maximum design spread does the current MDOT SHA inlet table allow on all roadways?

    1. A. 8 feet
    2. B. 10 feet
    3. C. 12 feet
    4. D. 14 feet

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Table 5-1 states: "Maximum design spread of 8 feet on all roadways."

    Reference: MDOT SHA Drainage Manual — MDOT SHA Drainage Manual Table 5-1, Note 1

  10. 10If a dam or stormwater pond discharges to an MDOT SHA storm drain, what must the downstream system convey?

    1. A. Only the two-year pond release
    2. B. Only the ordinary ten-year pipe flow
    3. C. The design-storm discharge from the dam or pond
    4. D. The average annual pond release

    Answer: C

    Explanation: The manual requires the system to ensure "the design storm discharge from the dam or pond can be adequately conveyed within the entire downstream storm drain system."

    Reference: MDOT SHA Drainage Manual — MDOT SHA Drainage Manual §5.3.1

Topics in this practice bank

These topics describe the available practice for Road Grade and Storm Drain Exam. Review the examination outline and its sources for scope and allocation details.

  • Road and Street Grade Design
    • Entrance/street profile grades, grade breaks, and profile documentation
    • Sight distance, curves, cross slopes, and superelevation
  • Hydrologic Design
    • Design storms and Rational Method applications
    • SCS methods, time of concentration, and drainage-area inputs
  • Hydraulic Principles
    • Open-channel design frequencies, stability, and hydraulic computations
    • Entrance-control, outlet-control, and headwater concepts
  • Drainage Facilities and Systems
    • Open drainage, inlets, and culverts
    • Storm-drain systems, hydraulic grades, and losses
  • Stormwater and Environmental Constraints
    • Design controls, downstream capacity, and hydraulic risk checks
    • Floodplains, karst, and environmental constraints

How to use these free practice questions

Choose an answer, check the explanation, and review your progress by chapter. Practice questions and explanations are free to access without signing up.

These are independent study questions, not actual examination items. For examination requirements and official information, view Road Grade and Storm Drain Exam details.