gradeline

English

Alternative forms

• grade line

Etymology

From grade +‎ line.

Noun

gradeline (plural gradelines)

1. A longitudinal reference line or slope to which a highway, railway, or other infrastructure is built. It defines the intended grade or slope of the structure, ensuring proper drainage, safety, and functionality.
   • 1830 January 14, REPORT of the DIRECTORS OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT ON THE SUBJECT OF RAIL ROADS TRANSMITTED TO THE LEGISLATURE, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, page 33:

     In valleys and depressions, embankments with side slopes of 1½ to 1, or about 33°, are raised to the grade line of the road; while the ridges and other prominences, occurring upon the route, are cut through to the same level, or grade line, leaving a surface width of 26 feet, and slopes upon the sides in the proportion of 1 to 1, or 45°.

   • 1962 November, SOIL SURVEY: Yadkin County North Carolina (Series 1959, No. 16), UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Soil Conservation Service, In cooperation with NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, page 38:

     Some soils, however, have a high water table, bedrock, or other obstacles that must be considered before the position of the gradeline is determined.

   • 2022, Jingxin Wang, Forest and Biomass Harvest and Logistics, Springer Nature, page 346:

     A good procedure is to first attempt to plot the gradeline on a topographic map, connecting the positive control points, and keeping the road at an acceptable grade.