This study will examine various issues related to culvert design, including potential impacts of shortening culverts or shielding culverts with barrier protection.
The goals of this study are: (1) Survey State departments of transportation (DOTs) to determine the height at which a vertical drop becomes a hazard even if placed outside the clear zone. This height would translate to the opening size that should be protected, regardless of location. (2) Review crash rates for various culvert offsets and interaction with barriers for known locations. (3) Develop benefit/cost per foot of culvert extension and relate to cost of barrier (both installation and presumed increased costs from crashes) to determine combinations of wing wall offsets and barriers for which shortening culverts is cost beneficial.