Citation

Byrne BF, Kabariti A. Transp. Res. Rec. 1976; 601: 76-78.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1976, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A research study was conducted to determine the best shoulder and curb width on highway bridges from the standpoint of safety, operation, and cost. A major objective of the study was to determine the behavior of traffic on long-span bridge structures with different shoulder and curb widths. A secondary objective was to determine whether the addition of a guardrail barrier flush with the face of a curb on a bridge affects the lateral placement and speed of moving vehicles on the structure. Data was collected and analyzed by using the analysis of variance technique and Tukey tests to find significant differences between speeds and placements for different conditions and positions. The following conclusions were drawn regarding speed: There is a significant difference in speeds between positions and conditions but no interaction between the two; There is no significant difference in speed between the base conditions with the without the sign. The following conclusions were drawn regarding placements: There is a significant difference and interaction in placement between positions and conditions; There is a significant difference in placement between positions for the base condition with no sign, but no significant difference in placement between positions for the base condition with the sign; Vehicles move away from the shoulder as they approach the bridge and cross it but tend to move back toward the shoulder at the lower end of the bridge.