Design and Detailing of Approach Slabs

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Approach slab or transition slab, a reinforced concrete slab located between a roadway and bridge

abutments or culverts or behind a retaining wall to permit a smooth transit of traffic is designed.
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 are then detailed to provide fixity at
the support, but allowing rotation without concrete spalling of the slab or support.
One side of the bridge deck joints is 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.
The design provides 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 are sealed to prevent entry of drainage water.
A bedding layer consisting of 150 mm of compacted crushed rock is used under approach slabs,
and an edge beam or additional reinforcement is used on the transverse free edge.
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.

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