Hydraulic Design of Highway Culverts - DOT On-Line Publications

Figure VI-26--LTEC Design Process
Figure VI-27--LTEC Solution Surface
When culvert ends are not outside the safe recovery area, appropriate inlet and outlet design
may reduce the danger they represent. Inlets and outlets can be mitered to conform to the fill
slope reducing the obstruction to a vehicle. For culvert ends with headwalls, fill should be
warped behind them to limit their exposure. (Markers should be placed on concealed culvert
ends to protect roadside maintenance personnel.)
2. Safety Barriers and Grates. Additional traffic safety can be achieved by the installation of
safety barriers and grates. Safety barriers should be considered in the form of guardrails along
the roadside near a culvert when adequate recovery distance cannot be achieved, or for
abnormally steep fill slopes (Figure VI-28). Traversable grates placed over culvert openings will
reduce vehicle impact forces and the likelihood of overturning (Figure VI-29).
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