Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
(OP)
I am working on a multi-story building project that includes a portion elevated above a roadway/drive aisle and I am seeking opinions as to the minimum clearance that should prudently be provided between the road surface and the overhead structure. The project is subject to IBC 2012 and I have not been able to find a specific requirement in IBC applicable to this condition. Likewise, the project architect and other colleagues I have queried have all pretty much shrugged their shoulders as to any "requirement". If AASHTO were applicable (I don't believe it is; or am I mistaken?), the minimum clearance would be 14'-0". This project is located in the eastern United States. The portion of the structure located above the roadway is several stories and an occupied structure (think office building). The roadway in question is public (not an interstate) but is a low-speed road/drive aisle within an office park. The road leads to an from a parking garage.






RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
FHWA Vertical Clearance Requirements
www.SlideRuleEra.net
www.VacuumTubeEra.net
RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
This is a recent collision from a superstructure replacement project I'm finishing up. Very low clearance & trucks aren't allowed on the road but it's still been getting hit on average 15 to 20 times a year for as long as anyone can remember.
RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
A quick Google search comes up with this http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/geometric/pubs/mitigati...
RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
Even then it depends on the speed of the vehicle.
A local railway bridge got hit a few years ago by one of those garbage trucks which have a front set of arms to lift industrial sized bins over the roof. Due to the speed of the truck the arms hit the substantial steel structure to prevent such things, went under that and wedged itself under the bridge, blew out the tyres(!) and they took all night to cut the thing to pieces to get it out.
what's 3 or 4 feet to prevent that happening?
The standard height in Europe is 5.1m (16.7 ft) so 17ft seems to to be the magic number.
Height of trailers seems to be going up - watching a 4.95m trailer go under a 5.1m motorway bridge is a little heart stopping at times....
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RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
The truck -or rather, what's left of it - that hit the bridge I cite.
RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
http://11foot8.com/
It's a great way to spend a few minutes contemplating low bridge construction. Like this one - listed as #103. http://11foot8.com/boxtruck-crashes-and-leaves-pre...
Technically, they don't hit the bridge, but a beam placed to protect the bridge, which apparently go hit a lot.
They have a 'Crash Art' store with fragments of vehicles and trailers that did not make it the entire way under the bridge.
RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway
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RE: Vertical Clearance Above Roadway