DESIRABLE CRITERIA FOR THE GEOMETRIC DESIGN AND OPERATION OF HIGHWAY SHOULDERS

THE DESIRABLE ELEMENTS OF HIGHWAY SHOULDERS CORRESPONDING TO THE FOUR BASIC FUNCTIONS (DELINEATION, DRAINAGE, STRUCTURAL SUPPORT, AND EMERGENCY AND SAFETY USES) ARE DETAILED. HIGH VISIBILITY AND CONTRAST (IN COLOR AND TEXTURE) ARE IMPORTANT AND THE RELATIVE MERITS AND DEMERITS OF TURF, BITUMINOUS AND STRIPED SHOULDERS ARE DISCUSSED. THE CROSS SLOPE MUST BE SUFFICIENT TO DRAIN EFFECTIVELY YET NOT AFFECT VEHICLE OPERATION. THE WIDTH MUST BE SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE STOPPED VEHICLES AS WELL AS BEAMS OR GUARDRAILS. FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES AN 8-FOOT SHOULDER IS MINIMAL AND FOR BUSES AND TRUCKS 10-12-FOOT WIDTHS ARE DESIRABLE. THE GRADED SHOULDER IS OFTEN 2-5 FEET WIDER THAN THE SURFACED WIDTH, SO PROVIDING NEEDED USABLE SPACE AND ALSO PERMITTING GUARDRAIL INSTALLATION. LAND SPACE AND COST RESTRAINTS MAY MINIMIZE DIMENSIONS BUT WIDER FULL-STOP SECTIONS OR BAYS SHOULD BE INCLUDED AT REASONABLE INTERVALS. ON 4-LANE HIGHWAYS MOTORISTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO USE THE RIGHT SHOULDER BUT ON AN 8-LANE FREEWAY A LEFT SHOULDER MUST BE PROVIDED. THE SHOULDER MUST BE FLUSH AND LEVEL AT THE THROUGH LANE EDGE TO PERMIT PULL-OVER AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE DESIGN SHOULD BE SUCH THAT IT FURNISHES STRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO THE PAVEMENT BASE AND SURFACE COURSES BY SERVING AS BUTTRESS ALONG ITS EDGE. THE PAVEMENT-SHOULDER INTERFACE MUST BE SEALED TO PREVENT INFILTRATION OF SURFACE WATER. THERE SHOULD BE CONTINUITY OF ALL FEATURES WITHOUT ABRUPT CHANGES IN CHARACTER OR WIDTH. THE NEED FOR SHOULDER DESIGN WHICH WOULD PERMIT EFFICIENT MAINTENANCE AND INVOLVE LOW CONSTRUCTION COSTS IS INDICATED.

• Record URL:
  https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trcircular/142/142-003.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Loutzenheiser, D W
• Publication Date: 1973-4

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: p. 2-7
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Circular
  • Issue Number: 142
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board (HRB)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous materials; Design; Design standards; Geometric design; Highway maintenance; Road shoulders; Striping; Structural analysis; Turf
• Uncontrolled Terms: Criteria; Design features; Structural adequacy
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00203813
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 31 1973 12:00AM