Design Manual for Roads and Bridges
Encyclopedia
The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) is a series of 15 volumes that provide official standards, advice notes and other documents relating to the design, assessment and operation of trunk road
s, including motorways in the United Kingdom
, and, with some amendments, the Republic of Ireland
http://www.nra.ie/News/DownloadableDocumentation/htmltext,2671,en.html.
They form part of a suite of technical documents produced by the Highways Agency, which comprises:
Volume 0 - Introduction and General requirements
Volume 1 - Highway Structures: Approval Procedures and General Design
Volume 2 - Highway Structures: Design (Substructures and Special Structures), Materials
Volume 3 - Highway Structures: Inspection and Maintenance
Volume 4 - Geotechnics and Drainage
Volume 5 - Assessment and Preparation of Road Schemes
Volume 6 - Road Geometry
Volume 7 - Pavement Design and Maintenance
Volume 8 - Traffic Signs and Lighting
Volume 9 - Traffic Control and Communications
Volume 10 - Environmental Design
Volume 11 - Environmental Assessment
Volume 12 - Traffic Appraisal of Road Schemes
Volume 13 - Economic Assessment of Road Schemes
Volume 14 - Economic Assessment of Road Maintenance
Volume 15 - Economic Assessment of Road Schemes in Scotland
The individual volumes contain technical requirements and guidance on a wide range of topics. The material includes::
In terms of scheme appraisal, the cost-benefit and environmental impact assessment
methods set out in DMRB provide important inputs into the approach used to appraise road schemes, called the New Approach to Appraisal
.
Safety Barriers (Road Restraint Systems)
The approach to safety barriers was revised in 2005/06 from a prescriptive approach to a risk assessment-based system (Road Restraints Risk Assessment Process (RRRAP)) http://www.highways.gov.uk/business/12081.aspx. TD 19/06 - "Requirements for Road Restraint Systems" http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol2/section2/td1906.pdf was issued and the safety barrier drawings in Volume 3 of the Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Works were withdrawn, to be replaced by Highways Agency accepted EN 1317 compliant Road Restraint Systems list http://www.highways.gov.uk/business/8720.aspx.
on behalf of the agencies responsible for trunk roads in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
to cater for local conditions in the country. In this form it is known as the NRA Design Manual for Roads and Bridges or NRADMRB. The Irish version incorporates Volumes 1,2, 4-8 and part of Volume 9 of the UK DMRB.http://www.nra.ie/News/DownloadableDocumentation/htmltext,2671,en.html
Department for Transport
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
s, including motorways in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and, with some amendments, the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
http://www.nra.ie/News/DownloadableDocumentation/htmltext,2671,en.html.
They form part of a suite of technical documents produced by the Highways Agency, which comprises:
- Design Manual for Roads and Bridges
- Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works
- Network Maintenance Manual, and Routine and Winter Service Codes
Overview
The volumes within the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges are:Volume 0 - Introduction and General requirements
Volume 1 - Highway Structures: Approval Procedures and General Design
Volume 2 - Highway Structures: Design (Substructures and Special Structures), Materials
Volume 3 - Highway Structures: Inspection and Maintenance
Volume 4 - Geotechnics and Drainage
Volume 5 - Assessment and Preparation of Road Schemes
Volume 6 - Road Geometry
Volume 7 - Pavement Design and Maintenance
Volume 8 - Traffic Signs and Lighting
Volume 9 - Traffic Control and Communications
Volume 10 - Environmental Design
Volume 11 - Environmental Assessment
Volume 12 - Traffic Appraisal of Road Schemes
Volume 13 - Economic Assessment of Road Schemes
Volume 14 - Economic Assessment of Road Maintenance
Volume 15 - Economic Assessment of Road Schemes in Scotland
The individual volumes contain technical requirements and guidance on a wide range of topics. The material includes::
- technical and other procedures and methods to be employed;
- analytical criteria to be used;
- appraisal requirements;
- dimensional requirements;
- numerical and statistical data.
Specific Subjects
Scheme AppraisalIn terms of scheme appraisal, the cost-benefit and environmental impact assessment
Environmental impact assessment
An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
methods set out in DMRB provide important inputs into the approach used to appraise road schemes, called the New Approach to Appraisal
New Approach to Appraisal
The New Approach to Appraisal was the name given to a multi-criteria decision framework used to appraise transport projects and proposals in the United Kingdom...
.
Safety Barriers (Road Restraint Systems)
The approach to safety barriers was revised in 2005/06 from a prescriptive approach to a risk assessment-based system (Road Restraints Risk Assessment Process (RRRAP)) http://www.highways.gov.uk/business/12081.aspx. TD 19/06 - "Requirements for Road Restraint Systems" http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol2/section2/td1906.pdf was issued and the safety barrier drawings in Volume 3 of the Manual of Contract Documents for Highways Works were withdrawn, to be replaced by Highways Agency accepted EN 1317 compliant Road Restraint Systems list http://www.highways.gov.uk/business/8720.aspx.
Timeline
When the DMRB was originally published in 1992 it only covered roads in England and Wales. Its remit was subsequently extended to include roads in Scotland and Northern Ireland. DMRB is managed by the Highways AgencyHighways Agency
The Highways Agency is an executive agency, part of the Department for Transport in England. It has responsibility for managing the core road network in England...
on behalf of the agencies responsible for trunk roads in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Use in Republic of Ireland
Rather than create a separate design manual for roads in the Republic of Ireland, the UK's Design Manual for Roads and Bridges has also applied in the Republic of Ireland since 2001, with an additional addendum inserted by the National Roads AuthorityNational Roads Authority
The National Roads Authority is a state body in the Republic of Ireland, responsible for the national road network. The NRA was established as part of the Roads Act 1993 and commenced operations on 23 December 1993 in accordance with S.I. 407 of 1993.County councils remain responsible for local...
to cater for local conditions in the country. In this form it is known as the NRA Design Manual for Roads and Bridges or NRADMRB. The Irish version incorporates Volumes 1,2, 4-8 and part of Volume 9 of the UK DMRB.http://www.nra.ie/News/DownloadableDocumentation/htmltext,2671,en.html
External links
Highways Agency- Design Manual for Roads and Bridges PDF version of the manual
- Manual of Contract Document for Highway Works - Contains the Specification and Notes for Guidance to be used in connection with Works on the motorway and trunk road network.
- Traffic Systems and Signals Plans Registry A technical archive of traffic systems and signs documents, originally hard copy only, now made available on line. The site contains Highways Agency Documents that start MCE, MCF, MCG, MCH MCS, MCX, TR, TRG TRH. Site is free, but you have to register (or at least provide an email address).
- Network Maintenance Manual & Routine and Winter Service Code - Requirements for management of maintenance of the motorway and trunk road network.
Department for Transport
- Manual for Streets - replaces Design Bulletin 32 (DB32) which deals with residential and non-trunk road design and layout.
- Traffic Signs Manual - Complete manual, including Chapter 8 - Roadworks and temporary situations (2006).
- Traffic Advisory Leaflets - Downloads of advice covering subjects such as provision for pedestrians and cyclists, traffic modelling and calming.