RDN 06-07 July 2010 (previously 12-01)
ROAD DESIGN NOTE
The performance safety barrier treatments
at bridge approaches
1. Purpose
This Road Design Note provides guidelines for medium
and high containment performance level barriers at bridge
approaches in situations where barrier penetration could
result in a major incident.
2. Scope
The treatment shall provide for medium and high
containment levels at bridge approaches in accordance
with the following criteria:
Roads carrying greater that 40,000 vpd with a speed limit
of 80 kph or greater, passing over:
Another road carrying greater than 40,000 vpd, or
Suburban passenger rail tracks,
A reservoir or lake.
The median treatments shall usually apply to the interim 4
lane and 6 lane typical urban freeway conditions.
The containment levels at the bridge approaches shall
be the same as that used for the bridge barriers as
determined by the bridge designers.
3. Background
VicRoads Corporate Management Group (CMG) asked for an
assessment to be made of the performance of Crash Barriers
on Bridges and Bridge Approaches. It was found that based
upon theory and overseas crash testing, the majority of our
rigid bridge barriers contain a car or a 2 tonne pick-up truck
at the design speed and an angle of impact of 15 degrees.
The transition zone from flexible barriers to rigid barriers,
particularly at bridge approaches also is potentially hazardous
according to the accident records.
Corporate Management Group gave approval for
development of new standards on bridge and
approach barriers.
4. Discussion
4.1 General
Reference shall be made to the Bridge Design
Requirements for Bridge Traffic Barriers for the four levels
of containment.
As a guide the general descriptions of the levels are:
Low level for containment on roads with low traffic
volumes, low speed and predominantly light vehicles.
Regular level for the containment of cars and
heavy vehicles.
Medium level for the containment of most buses and
medium mass vehicles.
High level for high risk situations and the
containment of heavy vehicles.
The existing Standard Drawings in the VicRoads Standard
Drawings for Roadworks are:
SD 4071 Guard Fence Layouts for Bridge
Approaches
SD 4082 Guard Fence Bridge Approaches (Short
End Post)
These are for low and regular containment levels. They do
not cater for heavy vehicles.
Treatments are provided for the following medium and
high containment levels situations:
4.2 Median
4.2.1 More than 9 metre clear zone behind back of
extended concrete bridge barrier (SD 4501).
For this situation, wire rope safety barriers are used
in conjunction with the extended concrete bridge
barrier. The total barrier containment length is
calculated by adopting the 3o divergence angle from
the nearest traffic lane to protect a 9 metre width
between the bridges.
keeping victorians connected
4.2.2 Less than 9 metre clear zone behind back of extended Vince Colosimo (1996), Design Proposals for Bridge Barriers
concrete bridge barrier (SD 4511). Asia Pacific Symposium on Bridge loading and fatigue.
The same as for 5.2.1 with the additional requirement VicRoads (1997), Design Requirements for Bridge Traffic Barriers
that the extended concrete bridge barrier shall be
Prepared for: Road Safety Department
double sided along the area exposed to where a 15o
angle diverges from the opposite carriageway at the Approved by
bridge endpost and the end of the bridge barrier.
4.3 Left verge
4.3.1 Left verge on steep terrain (SD 4521)
David Barton
Length of extended bridge barrier depends on height PRINCIPAL ROAD DESIGN ENGINEER
and extent of steep terrain and length required for VicRoads
containment. Consideration needs to be given to the
likelihood of an errant vehicle passing behind a barrier Contact
and getting as far as the area under the bridge.
For further information please contact:
4.3.2 Left verge on flat terrain (SD 4531)
VicRoads Technical Consulting
For this situation, wire rope safety barriers are used 3 Prospect Hill Road Camberwell Vic 3124
in conjunction with the extended concrete barrier.
Sufficient barrier length is determined by using the Telephone: (03) 9811 8355
3o divergence angle from the nearest traffic lane Email: technicalconsulting@roads.vic.gov.au
to provide a 9 metre protected width at the bridge. Road Design Notes are subject to periodic review and may
Extra barrier length may be required due to the be superseded.
consequences of a vehicle travelling across the terrain
behind the barrier.
4.4 Gore area of exit ramp (SD4541)
The length of the extended parapet will be determined by
the required location of the impact attenuator.
4.5 Independent barriers
Note that the wire rope safety barrier shall be independent
of the extended concrete bridge barrier.

References
Supersedes RDN 12-01 June 2001
VicRoads Supplement to AGRD Part 6 Section 6.0
Safety Barriers
VicRoads (2010). RDN 06-02 - The Use of Wire Rope
Safety Barrier (WRSB) - with particular reference to Brifen
and Flexfence.
Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 3: Geometric Design
VicRoads Supplement to AGRD Part 3

For further information please phone 13 11 71

or visit vicroads.vic.gov.au

keeping victorians connected