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MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPED BY: Design Standards Unit ISSUED BY: Office of Project Management and Technical Support

TRANSMITTAL LETTER NO. (12-01) MANUAL: Road Design English Manual DATED: April 18, 2012

SUBJECT: Chapter 4 Index, Section 4-6.05 (Lateral Offset to Obstructions)

The section and associated design element was renamed from Horizontal Clearance to Obstruction to Lateral Offset to Obstructions to conform to 2011 AASHTO Green Book nomenclature. The discussion has been edited for clarity and brevity. The design criteria is revised to focus on the urban and suburban setting to align with the guidance in the 2011 AASHTO Roadside Design Guide.

INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Record this transmittal letter number, date and subject on the transmittal record sheet located in the front of the ENGLISH manual. The last Transmittal Letter was 11-02, dated December 8, 2011. 2. Remove from the ENGLISH manual: 4-0(1) through 4-0(2) 4-6(21) Insert into the ENGLISH manual: 4-0(1) through 4-0(2) 4-6(21) (backside blank), all dated April, 2012

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The Road Design Manual and associated Transmittal Letters are available online in PDF format at. http://roaddesign.dot.state.mn.us/roaddesign.aspx Any technical questions regarding this transmittal should be directed to James Rosenow, Design Standards Engineer, at (651) 366-4673, or by email to DesignStandards.DOT@state.mn.us

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James A. Rosenow, P.E. Design Standards Engineer, Acting

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APRIL, 2012

MnDOT ROAD DESIGN MANUAL

CHAPTER 4 CROSS SECTIONS

4-0(1)

4-1.0 4-2.0

INTRODUCTION SUBGRADE 4-2.01 Subgrade Treatments 4-2.01.01 4-2.01.02 4-2.01.03 4-2.02 Subcuts Subgrade Correction Design Details

Borrow and Disposal Areas 4-2.02.01 4-2.02.02 4-2.02.03 Borrow Areas Disposal Areas Topsoil Removal and Placement

4-2.03 4-3.0

Width and Cross Slope

TRAVEL LANES 4-3.01 Through Lanes 4-3.01.01 4-3.01.02 4-3.01.03 4-3.01.04 4-3.02 Number Width Surface Types Cross Slopes

Auxiliary Lanes

4-4.0

SHOULDERS AND CURBS 4-4.01 Shoulders 4-4.01.01 4-4.01.02 4.4.02 Width Cross Slopes

Rumble Strips 4-4.02.01 4-4.02.02 Shoulder Rumble Strips In-Lane Rumble Strips

4-4.03

Shoulder Use By Buses 4.4.03.01 Design Criteria

4-4.04

Curbs

4-0(2)
4-5.0 MEDIANS 4-5.01 4-5.02 Width

MnDOT ROAD DESIGN MANUAL

APRIL, 2012

Median Types 4-5.02.01 4-5.02.02 4-5.02.03 Flush Medians Raised Medians Depressed Medians

4-6.0

ROADSIDE ELEMENTS 4-6.01 Side Slopes 4-6.01.01 4-6.01.02 4-6.02 4-6.03 Rock Cuts Ditch Sections 4-6.03.01 4-6.04 Clear Zones 4-6.04.01 4-6.04.02 4-6.04.03 4-6.04.04 Clear Zone Design Criteria Design Application Calculating Clear Zones on Tangents (using Table 4-6.04A) Calculating Clear Zones on Horizontal Curves (using Tables 4-6.04B through K) Toe Ditches Inslopes (foreslopes) Back Slopes

4-6.05 4-7.0

Lateral Offset to Obstructions

FRONTAGE ROADS 4-7.01 4-7.02 Design Terminals to Frontage Roads

4-8.0

RIGHT OF WAY 4-8.01 4-8.02 4-8.03 Special Controls Procedures Indication of Right of Way Limits on Cross Section Sheets

4-9.0

REFERENCES

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4-6.05

MnDOT ROAD DESIGN MANUAL

4-6(21)

Lateral Offset to Obstructions

Along urban non-freeway facilities, establishing a clear zone using the guidance in 4-6.04 is often impractical, as these environments are characterized by common unyielding items as well as on-street parking. It is necessary, however, to provide sufficient lateral space adjacent to the roadway to allow vehicles to operate on the street without undue risk of contact with street-side objects. This operational space is referred to as lateral offset to obstruction. In urban and suburban settings, a lateral offset provides the following benefits: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Acts as a shy distance, improving the lane position of vehicles traveling in the outside lane Improves travel lane capacity Improves horizontal sight distances at intersections and entrances Reduces the potential for parked vehicle contact with street-side objects (e.g. door swing) Minimizes contact from vehicle-mounted items (e.g. side mirrors) as well as overhang from turning trucks and buses

Lateral offset to obstruction is applicable on non-freeway urban and suburban facilities. The minimum design value is 1.5 ft (0.5 m), measured from the face of curb / gutter line to the near edge of any stationary object, fixed or breakaway. At intersections, 3 ft (1 m) of lateral offset is recommended to provide sufficient clearance for the overhang of turning trucks and buses. These criteria do not apply to traffic barriers where they are deployed; barriers should be installed at the offset prescribed by their approved use.

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