In Service Evaluation of Culvert Extension

This study will examine various issues related to culvert design, including potential impacts of shortening culverts or shielding culverts with barrier protection. The goals of this study are: (1) Survey State departments of transportation (DOTs) to determine the height at which a vertical drop becomes a hazard even if placed outside the clear zone. This height would translate to the opening size that should be protected, regardless of location. (2) Review crash rates for various culvert offsets and interaction with barriers for known locations. (3) Develop benefit/cost per foot of culvert extension and relate to cost of barrier (both installation and presumed increased costs from crashes) to determine combinations of wing wall offsets and barriers for which shortening culverts is cost beneficial.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $50000
• Contract Numbers:

  Addendum 620

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Principal Investigators:

  Savolainen, Peter

• Start Date: 20170701
• Expected Completion Date: 20181231
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barriers (Roads); Benefit cost analysis; Crash rates; Culverts; Design; Evaluation; State departments of transportation; Surveys
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01645865
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Iowa Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: Addendum 620
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 7 2017 4:13PM