vicroads

2001/005 Bridge Technical Note

APPROACH SLABS

1. GENERAL

This Technical Note provides guidelines for the warrants and use of approach slabs on VicRoads
structures.

2. SCOPE

This Technical Note explains the purpose of approach slabs, and covers criteria for use, standard
dimensions, design and AS 5100 references to the use of approach slabs.

3. DEFINITION

Approach slab is the term used by VicRoads for the reinforced concrete slab located between a
roadway and bridge abutments or culverts or behind a retaining wall to permit a smooth transit of
traffic. Other commonly used terms are relieving or run-on slabs, and the terminology used by
AASHTO is transition slabs.

4. DISCUSSION

4.1 Purpose
Approach slabs provide a transition between road and structural surfaces and reduce the step
caused by settlement of approach embankments to bridges/culverts or behind retaining walls.
Settlements occur due to consolidation of embankment material or the underlying foundation
material. Consolidation of filling adjacent to bridge abutments, culverts, or adjacent to retaining
walls is partially due to the difficulty, during construction, of compacting material close to a wall.
It has been shown that approach slabs reduce vehicle impact on bridges by providing a smooth
transition of road surface level.

4.2 Criteria for use

VicRoads practice is to use approach slabs for bridges :-

On Freeways, State Highways, Arterial Roads and Urban Roads,

On Local Roads where AADT exceeds 300 vpd and embankment height exceeds 1.5 metres, or
where long term settlement is expected.

VicRoads practice is to use approach slabs on culverts where the above criteria apply, and there is
insufficient depth over the culvert for the road pavement. This situation may occur when culverts
are located on a floodway.

VicRoads practice is to use approach slabs on retaining walls where traffic lanes are close to the
retaining wall to prevent loss of road profile. This situation may occur at interchanges where
retaining walls are required because of restrictions on the location of ramps.

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Approach Slabs

4.3 Length
Approach slabs should be provided for the full width of roadway (and footway where necessary)
and the length should be 4.0 metres minimum measured square to the abutment centreline.
Designers should provide longer approach slabs where large settlements are expected.

4.4 Design and detailing of approach slabs

Approach slabs are designed for vehicle live load and dead load assuming they are simply
supported with a span of 0.9 times length. Approach slabs should be detailed to provide fixity at
the support, but allowing rotation without spalling of the slab or support.

One side of the bridge deck joints is usually fixed to the approach slab, and the type of deck joint
should have capacity for rotation and vertical movement (uplift) compatible with expected
settlement of the approach slab.

Designers should provide adequate lateral clearances from other parts of the structure (e.g. from
wing walls) to allow settlement of approach slabs. The gaps between approach slabs and wing
walls should be sealed to prevent entry of drainage water.

Where approach slabs have 2-way crossfall, designers should detail the support to allow the slab to
rotate about a single hinge line.

A bedding layer consisting of 100 mm of compacted crushed rock is used under approach slabs,
and an edge beam or additional reinforcement is used on the transverse free edge.

Alternatives to VicRoads normal design standards for approach slab designs are acceptable
provided they meet equivalent or higher performance standards.

4.5 Design of supports

Designers should be aware that AS 5100.2 Clause 13.2 states that the support structure (e.g.
abutment or retaining wall) should be designed for live load surcharge irrespective of whether or
not there is provision for an approach slab in the bridge design. The reason for this is given in the
Commentary to the above Clause.

4.6 Drainage
Pavement settlement is a common problem at the end of approach slabs due to the entry of water in
the interface between the pavement and approach slab. A sub-surface drain should be installed at
this location unless specified otherwise.

5 REFERENCES

1. AS 5100 Bridge Design, 2004.

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Approach Slabs

Approved - June 2005

MIKE VEREY
PRINCIPAL BRIDGE ENGINEER

For further information please contact:

Principal Bridge Engineer
3 Prospect Hill Road Camberwell Vic 3124
Telephone: (03) 9811 8307
Facsimile: (03) 9811 8329
Email: mike.verey@roads.vic.gov.au
Bridge Tech Notes are subject to periodic review and may be superseded.

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