TABLE OF CONTENTS – APPROACH SLABS
CHAPTER 19
FILE NO. TITLE DATE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
19.TOC-1 Table of Contents – Chapter 19 ...............................................................29Apr2022
GENERAL INFORMATION
19.01-1 Where to Use; Type to Use ......................................................................30Apr2021
19.01-2 Dimensions; Materials ..............................................................................29Apr2022
19.01-3 Other Considerations ...............................................................................30Apr2021
PART 2
APPROACH SLABS DATE: 29Apr2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS – CHAPTER 19 SHEET 1 of 1
FILE NO. 19.TOC
WHERE TO USE APPROACH SLABS
Structural approach slabs shall be used in initial construction of all Freeway and Arterial
structures. Structural approach slabs shall be used in initial construction of all other structures
(except Secondary System), with a Design Hourly Volume (DHV) per lane over 250 and an
Average Daily Traffic (ADT) per lane over 1700. Per lane values may be obtained by dividing the
design year DHV and ADT by the number of lanes. The District Structure and Bridge Engineer
(DBE) will have the option of using approach slabs in the remaining cases including the
Secondary Systems. Structural approach slabs are also required for ramp structures. Abutments
are to be designed and detailed to support approach slabs whether included or not in initial
construction except on the Secondary Systems or where purposefully omitted.
Where, in the best engineering judgment of the DBE, it is deemed not to be appropriate to use
approach slabs on a non-interstate structure, the DBE will place a document in the project file
indicating the reasons why approach slabs are not appropriate and the functional classification,
current ADT, % trucks, future (design) ADT and year.
The rest of the chapter is written assuming the determination has been made that approach slabs
are needed.
TYPE TO USE (AT-GRADE or BURIED)
There are two types of approach slabs to use, at-grade and buried. At-grade approach slabs
(series BAS-AG or BAS-SW) shall be used for full integral or semi-integral abutments. Buried
approach slabs (series BAS-BD) shall be used for all other abutment types.
At-Grade, Without Sidewalk on Bridge, Without U-Back MSE Wall:
Use series BAS-AG.
The width shall include the CG-3 curb (see 508.01 of the Road and Bridge Standards). The edge
of approach slab corresponds to the back of the CG-3.
At-Grade, With Sidewalk on Bridge, Without U-Back MSE Wall:
Use series BAS-SW.
The width shall include the sidewalk. Therefore, the edge of approach slab corresponds to the
face of bridge barrier, which is the back of the sidewalk on the bridge. Since the sidewalk is on
the approach slab, the CG-3 is not used.
At-Grade, With U-Back MSE Wall (With or Without Sidewalk):
Use series BAS-AG or -SW (depending on whether a sidewalk is used).
Guardrail is not allowed to be attached to the terminal wall if there is a MSE wall running parallel
to where the guardrail would normally be (see File No. 17.01-18). This is because the guardrail
posts could damage the MSE wall straps. Therefore, the bridge barrier must continue across the
approach slab, and the edge of approach slab corresponds to the back of the bridge barrier (edge
of deck). The designer shall modify the approach slab standard to show the appropriate width
and the barrier on top of approach slab.
APPROACH SLABS PART 2
DATE: 30Apr2021
GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET 1 of 3
WHERE TO USE; TYPE TO USE FILE NO. 19.01-1
If the MSE wall ends before the end of approach slab, then the terminal wall will be on the
approach slab and guardrail will begin at the end of approach slab. If the MSE wall continues
past the end of approach slab, then a moment slab will begin at the end of the approach slab
(refer to Chapter 18).
Buried:
Use series BAS-BD.
DIMENSIONS OF APPROACH SLAB:
Approach Slab Lengths:
The length of the approach slab perpendicular to the abutment backwall is 20 feet for at grade
approach slabs and 10 feet for buried approach slabs.
Approach Slab Widths:
For widths of at-grade approach slabs, see discussion in TYPE TO USE above.
The width of buried approach slabs shall be set so that the edge of approach slab is 2’-0” from
the face of bridge barrier. For bridges with an inside barrier (a barrier separating a shared used
path or sidewalk), use the outside barrier.
For bridges with at-grade approach slabs and a barrier separated Shared Used Path (SUP) that
is raised, follow the applicable sidewalk scenario aforementioned. If the SUP is flush, extend
approach slab so that it incorporates the SUP and follow the applicable “without sidewalk”
scenario above.
Location of Top of Buried Approach Slab:
For deck extension abutments: distance from finished grade to top of approach slab at
the approach slab seat = maximum deck extension depth used (see Section 17.08) + 12”
For other abutment types: set the top of approach slab so it matches the bottom of the
approach roadway aggregate base material.
Skew: Standards with skew up to 30o for at-grade and 50º for buried are provided in Part 3. The
designer needs to design an approach slab when the skew exceeds these limits.
MATERIALS:
Class A4 concrete shall be used for approach slabs.
CRR with the same class as used in the deck slab shall be used for at-grade approach slabs.
CRR Class I shall be used for buried approach slabs.
APPROACH SLABS PART 2
DATE: 29Apr2022
GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET 2 of 3
DIMENSIONS; MATERIALS FILE NO. 19.01-2
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:
Utilities:
When utilities are running through the abutment backwall, the designer must determine if there is
interference with the buried approach slab. This must be determined during preliminary plan
development (before the Stage I plans are approved, which includes abutment type selection).
If there is interference and the abutment type is a Virginia Abutment or a conventional abutment,
the designer may use an at-grade approach slab. The designer may modify the approach slab
standard to fit the proposed abutment.
If there is interference and the abutment type is deck extension abutment, options would be:
1) Re-examine the need for approach slabs
2) Ask if the Utility could be removed from the bridge
3) Increase the girder depth so that the utility could pass beneath the buried approach
slab
Raised Medians:
For projects that have raised concrete medians on the roadway approaches, the approach slabs
shall extend and the median constructed on top of the approach slab.
If the median immediately off the bridge is grass/earth, the approach slab does not need to
extend underneath the median. The designer shall incorporate the median curb into the edge of
approach slab.
Miscellaneous:
A. All approach slab standards in Part 3 are applicable to asphalt approach roadways only. If
the approach roadway is concrete, contact Engineering Services.
B. At-grade approach slabs shall be grooved. Include the quantity in the superstructure bridge
deck grooving.
C. Approach slab plans are included in the bridge plans.
D. For barrier separated sidewalk / SUP path bridges, the bridge designer shall coordinate with
the road designer so that appropriate barrier termination details are included in the roadway
plans.
E. For stage construction projects, buried approach slabs do not need to be connected at the
stage interface.
F. The BAS-AG series is not configured for full integral abutments that have U-back wings in-
line with the bridge barrier. In this situation, the designer would need to modify the BAS-AG
standard, or change the wingwall type to elephant ear or offset U-back wings.
APPROACH SLABS PART 2
DATE: 30Apr2021
GENERAL INFORMATION SHEET 3 of 3
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FILE NO. 19.01-3
