Section 3: Shoulders and Approaches Guidelines
Anchor: #i1000917General Guidelines for Shoulders and Approaches
Shoulders are the portions of the roadway adjacent to the travelway that are used for the following purposes:
- accommodation of stopped vehicles
- emergency use
- lateral support of base and surface courses.
Efforts should be made to maintain a smooth transition between the travelway and the shoulder. When a shoulder drop-off is objectionable, corrective action should be taken as soon as practical. When a shoulder drop-off condition presents a danger to the traveling public, corrective action may be taken as soon as possible.
Anchor: #i1000948Shoulders
The following guidelines are recommended for different types of shoulders:
- Open base shoulders should be lightly bladed periodically to maintain a uniform slope sufficient to properly drain the roadway surface. Serious and habitual rutting in critical areas should be corrected by the addition of suitable material as soon as practical. Excessive material losses should be corrected by adding additional material as soon as practical.
- Paved shoulders are subject to the same distresses and deterioration as similar roadway surfaces and should be maintained in the same manner.
- Sod shoulders should be lightly bladed as needed in order to prevent shoulder buildup and drop-off and to provide a uniform slope sufficient to properly drain the roadway surface. Serious and habitual rutting in critical areas should be corrected by the addition of suitable material as soon as practical.
Driveways
Rules and regulations governing the construction and maintenance of access driveways are located in the “Regulations for Access Driveways to State Highways” booklet. General guidelines for driveways include the following:
- Commercial driveways are to be constructed and maintained by the owner of the commercial establishment served by the driveway.
- Private driveways are to be maintained by the owner of the property served by the driveway.
- Public access driveways include all approaches to state highways from county or city maintained roads and streets, as well as approaches to schools, churches, cemeteries and other public places or buildings of a similar character. The department maintains public driveways as close to the condition as originally built or in a manner that is practical. Please refer to the “Regulations for Access Driveways to State Highways” booklet for additional information.