Use of Guardrail on Low-volume Roads According to Safety and Cost Effectiveness

Use of Guardrail on Low-volume Roads According to Safety and Cost Effectiveness
Author: Margaret Joanna Rys
Publisher:
Total Pages: 188
Release: 1999
Genre: Low-volume roads
ISBN:

The objective of this study was to develop guidelines for the use of guardrail on low-volume roads (LVR) in Kansas according to safety and cost effectiveness. A comprehensive review of the research literature was conducted to explore and gather information on the use of guardrail on LVR according to safety and cost effectiveness. The purpose of this information search was to identify the general elements used to determine the need for guardrail on LVR and to review any specific guidelines already in use by other states. The principle findings from this literature review are presented in this report.

Roadside Design Guide

Roadside Design Guide
Author:
Publisher: Amer Assn of State Hwy
Total Pages: 352
Release: 1996-01-01
Genre: Bridge railings
ISBN: 9781560510314

This document presents a synthesis of current information and operating practices related to roadside safety and is developed in metric units. The roadside is defined as that area beyond the traveled way (driving lanes) and the shoulder (if any) of the roadway itself. The focus of this guide is on safety treatments that minimize the likelihood of serious injuries when a driver runs off the road. This guide replaces the 1989 AASHTO "Roadside Design Guide."

Evaluation of Safety Treatments for Roadside Culverts

Evaluation of Safety Treatments for Roadside Culverts
Author: Francisco Daniel B. Albuquerque
Publisher:
Total Pages: 218
Release: 2009
Genre: Roads
ISBN:

Roadside cross-drainage culverts have been found to impact vehicle accident injury levels. Designers have commonly used three safety treatments to protect errant drivers from culvert accidents. These treatments have included: culvert extension, guardrail installation and grating. In order to define which safety treatment is the most appropriate, benefit-cost analysis has used accident cost reduction to estimate societal gains earned by using any safety treatment. The purpose of this study was to estimate accident costs for a wide range of roadway and roadside characteristics so that designers can calculate benefit/cost ratios for culvert safety treatment options under any particular scenario. This study began with conducting a parametric study in order to find variables which have significant impact on accident cost changes. The study proceeded with highway scenario modeling which included scenarios with different values for combinations of roadway and roadside variables. These variables were chosen based upon findings from the parametric study and their values were assigned based upon highway classification. This study shows that the use of different culvert safety treatments should be flexible to roadway and roadside characteristics. It also shows that culvert extension and grating were the safety treatments found to produce the lowest accident costs for all highway scenarios modeled. Therefore, it is believed that the expanded adoption of culvert extension and culvert grates can improve overall highway safety.

Gravel Roads

Gravel Roads
Author: Ken Skorseth
Publisher:
Total Pages: 112
Release: 2000
Genre: Gravel roads
ISBN:

The purpose of this manual is to provide clear and helpful information for maintaining gravel roads. Very little technical help is available to small agencies that are responsible for managing these roads. Gravel road maintenance has traditionally been "more of an art than a science" and very few formal standards exist. This manual contains guidelines to help answer the questions that arise concerning gravel road maintenance such as: What is enough surface crown? What is too much? What causes corrugation? The information is as nontechnical as possible without sacrificing clear guidelines and instructions on how to do the job right.