After the insertion of the vertical alignment geometry and the computation of the superelevation rate diagram the designer must proceed to the calculation of the cross sections. Before this action, first must select the appropriate typical cross sections (templates) in order to comprise the cross sections of the current project. A typical cross section can be created by the user visually from scratch or can be inserted from another project. Each typical cross section can be used as a prototype by modifying, adding, or deleting some elements in order to produce a customized version. The resulting cross section can then be exported to an external library with a new name and can be used later as a prototype itself. Every typical cross section is able to ‘contain’ over a thirty user defined polygonal boundaries enclosing customizable materials.

The side slopes of the cross sections can be defined freely and can have any shape. The side slopes pattern (left and right) may varies along the road axis. Generally, any combination of roadway typical cross section and side slope pattern can be used.

Additional data that designer may insert to the cross sections is the pavement widenings and an existing road pavement. The existing road pavement can be recognized from a respective layer of the background drawing. Diolkos adjusts the cross sections of the project taking into account the existing pavement and calculates the required material quantity for the binder layer. The soil replacement layer that improves the stability under fill slopes is computed automatically.  The shape and form of this layer may vary along the roadway. Also the program automatically calculates the fill benching and the pavement widenings on high fill slopes as well as the capping layer on fills and the regulating course layer on cuts (if exists).

In order to place a wall on the roadside the user needs to specify only its position. Diolkos suggests suitable dimensions by consulting the appropriate specifications (slope gradient, soil stress). Wall insertion can be done en masse by specifying a constant offset from the road axis or individually in each selected cross section. The program is able to place parametrically guardrails at the road shoulders.

All the lines that comprise cross sections (pavement lines, soil crown lines, etc.) can be modified or redefined after the design stage. This lines can be inserted massively from specific text files (this text files have a simple format). The above capabilities give the construction engineer a utility to measure quantities at the construction stage of a corridor.

Diolkos has the ability to design multiple roads at the same time. The program compounds all the design elements of the parallel roads into a single project and then produce unite drawings for the plan and for the cross sections.