Roadside

CE 453 Lecture 23
Sideslopes – Foreslope (Backslope)
Design
1. Considerations: Stability and Vehicle
Recovery
a. if slope “>” 3:1 use barrier (if in clear zone)
b. Hinge Point – minimize to avoid airborne vehicle
c. Foreslope – flat enough to allow recovery (4:1 or
less desired)
d. Toe of Slope – round to avoid plowing
e. Ditch Bottom
f. Backslope (3:1 or “less” desired)
2. AASHTO RDG has preferred cross section
for two types of channels
Source: A Policy on Geometric Design
of Highways and Streets (The Green
Book). Washington, DC. American
Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials, 2001 4th Ed.
 Recoverable slopes

motorists are able

to stop/slow and
return to the
roadway safely
1 to 4 or flatter
 Recoverable Slope (unless you hit the sign)

<www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Slope/7683/site/highway/10-1.jpg>, February 28, 2002

Non-recoverable, traversable slopes
motorists unable to stop or return to
roadway safely
between 1:3 and 1:4
recovery area must be to the toe of the
slope and a clear runout area at base
with 1:6 or flatter slope
Source: A Policy on Geometric Design
of Highways and Streets (The Green
Book). Washington, DC. American
Association of State Highway and
Transportation Officials, 2001 4th Ed.
Critical slopes

vehicle likely to overturn

 Non-Recoverable Slope

http://ppihc.artemisimages.com/searchres.asp?appmode=detail&id=ppih0750&kw=Scenic&page=1&ec=&collection=&spec=
 Roadside – Components
1. Urban Areas
a. Curb
b. Horizontal Clearance
c. Buffer to Land Use
d. Walkways
2. Rural Areas (focus)
a. Clear Zone Concept
b. Drainage Channel Design
c. Traffic Barrier Use
d. AASHTO Road Design Guide (RDG)
Roadside Design Guide

American Association of
State Highway and
Transportation Officials
(2002)

Guide to address design

issues off the traveled way
(traffic lanes)
Roadside
1. Clear Zone (def.) – “The total roadside
border area, starting at the edge of the
traveled way, available for safe use by
errant vehicles”
2. Concept – area should be as wide, flat, and
rounded as practical and as free as
practical from physical obstructions (want a
driver who leaves roadway to regain control
and return to the roadway)
Roadside
3. AASHTO RDG
a. 30 feet (9 m) – 80 to 85 % recovery
b. Clear zone recommended = f(design speed, ADT,
roadside slope, curvature)
c. Compromise between “absolute” safety and
engineering, environmental, and economic
constraints (always)
Roadside Design Options for Objects

1. Remove (REDESIGN)
2. Relocate
3. Reduce impact severity (breakaway)
4. Redirect by shielding
5. Delineate

But what is an object? signs, poles, slopes

Clear Zone
 Unobstructed, relatively flat area beyond the edge of the
traveled way
 Provides area for vehicles to recover
 Width depends on:
 Volume
 Design speed
 Slope of embankment
 Measured from edge of pavement
to nearest
 Obstacle (tree, telephone pole, etc)
 Steep slope, non-traversable ditch
 Cliff
 Body of water

http://www.storycounty.com/engineer/roadside_safety.htm
Clear Zone

Source: Garber and Hoel

http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/pdf_web_files/tic/other/SAFERcontent_96.pdf
 after

before
Iowa’s Roadway-Related Fatal
Crashes
52% of Iowa’s fatalities are
related to Lane Departure

39% of Iowa’s fatal crashes

are single-vehicle
Run-Off-the-Road (ROR)
crashes
What
would
clear
zone be
for same
scenario
with cut
slope
instead?
What
would
clear
zone be
for same
scenario
with cut
slope
instead?
23 feet
vs. 30
feet
Why???
 Traffic Barriers
Purpose is to minimize severity of
potential accidents when vehicles leave
the roadway
Prevents vehicles from striking an
object such as tree or bridge abutment
Are obstacles themselves (need to
consider use)
http://www.southernguardrail.com/p_highway_gr_ar_01.html
http://www.southernguardrail.com/p_highway_gr_ar_01.html