Guidelines for Using Wide-Paved Shoulders on Low-Volume Two-Lane Rural Highways Based on Benefit/Cost Analysis

摘要

The study considers the relative benefit/cost for the provision of wide-paved shoulders on rural two-lane highways. Cost elements considered were accidents, pavement edge maintenance, paved shoulder surface maintenance, and travel time. It is concluded that wide-paved shoulders (6-10 feet wide) are cost beneficial for Average Annual Daily Traffic above 1,500 vehicles per day. This value corresponds very well with the 2000 vehicles per day reported in the Transportation Research Board Special Report 214, 1987.