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Access ramp

Msradell

Msradell

SAWHORSE
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
1,329
Location
Louisville Kentucky
One of the local governmental entities has built a large curved ramp to access a bridge across the Ohio River that will be used as a pedestrian walkway. The total curvature of the ramp is about 360° and the total rise is about 25 feet. The slope of the ramp appears to be within the allowable slope and it's about 8 feet wide so that's not a problem. The ramp however is continuous with no landings which I believe violates the regulation: 405.6 Rise. The rise for any ramp run shall be 30 inches (760 mm) maximum. Since they are a government entity they have not gone through the traditional permitting/inspection process. I've attached a couple of pictures below.Here's an aerial view.View attachment 1092Here is an end view of the bridge prior to the construction of the ramp.View attachment 1093

View attachment 1600

View attachment 1601

View attachment 1600

View attachment 1601

/monthly_2011_10/572953e40e517_Rampaerial.JPG.796ea3a35c23687c531623e71242530e.JPG

/monthly_2011_10/572953e4100dd_Rampendview.JPG.1d95fac4ea178c979db808680af65a3a.JPG
 
ADAAG

405.6 Rise. The rise for any ramp run shall be 30 inches maximum.

405.7 Landings. Ramps shall have landings at the top and the bottom of each ramp run. Landings shall comply with 405.7.

405.7.3 Length. The landing clear length shall be 60 inches long minimum.

So yes, does not comply with ADA
 
ICC/ANSI A117.1

405.6 Rise. The rise for any ramp run shall be 30 inches maximum.

405.7.3 Length. Landings shall have a clear length of 60 inches minimum.

So yes, does not comply with ICC/ANSI A117.1
 
mark handler said:
Tell them an elevator is safer and cheaper
Click to expand...
That's my thought exactly, there's at least 25 feet of rise so they probably would need at least 10 landings. I don't think those could be added to the side of the ramp while respecting the required cross slope angles. An elevator would probably be cheaper and easier. They haven't done anything on the other end yet so hopefully they will consider of all the requirements when doing that side.

I estimated about 700 feet so it's somewhere around there. An awful long ramp!
 
Take this design to the next step; should all accessible parking spaces be located at the shortest route to the elevator and pedestrian path including additional parking provided at all (public facilities) buildings?

It appears to have more than enough spaces for A117.1 except at the structure on the right side of the aerial photo but are they located correctly in your opinion?
 
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Francis Vineyard said:
Take this design to the next step; should all accessible parking spaces be located at the shortest route to the elevator and pedestrian path including additional parking provided at all (public facilities) buildings?It appears to have more than enough spaces for A117.1 except at the structure on the right side of the aerial photo but are they located correctly in your opinion?
Click to expand...
The parking area on the right was preexisting for another part of the waterfront park. The one in the middle of the ramp is the one that was added as part of this project. I do not believe that the handicapped spaces are correctly located but that's actually nothing very unusual!
 
mark handler said:
Tell them an elevator is safer and cheaper
Click to expand...
Definitely not safer to put people in a small unattended enclosure. Definitely not cheaper to provide 100% uptime with an elevator either.
 
Msradell said:
That's my thought exactly, there's at least 25 feet of rise so they probably would need at least 10 landings. I don't think those could be added to the side of the ramp while respecting the required cross slope angles. An elevator would probably be cheaper and easier. They haven't done anything on the other end yet so hopefully they will consider of all the requirements when doing that side. I estimated about 700 feet so it's somewhere around there. An awful long ramp!
Click to expand...
Again, it's not a ramp no matter how many times you call it one...but you have to read all of the code.
 
brudgers said:
Again, it's not a ramp no matter how many times you call it one...but you have to read all of the code.
Click to expand...
OK, maybe it's not a ramp is the slope is less than 1:20 but it's certainly not flat. It would certainly be extremely difficult for the majority of wheelchair users to climb the ramp from bottom to top without resting. Do they assume somebody will turn sideways to rest?
 
Msradell said:
OK, maybe it's not a ramp is the slope is less than 1:20 but it's certainly not flat. It would certainly be extremely difficult for the majority of wheelchair users to climb the ramp from bottom to top without resting. Do they assume somebody will turn sideways to rest?
Click to expand...
Wheel chairs have brakes for breaks.
 
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Msradell said:
OK, maybe it's not a ramp is the slope is less than 1:20 but it's certainly not flat. It would certainly be extremely difficult for the majority of wheelchair users to climb the ramp from bottom to top without resting. Do they assume somebody will turn sideways to rest?
Click to expand...
I don't know, why don't you ask them?
 
You need a ramp at the bottom, so the skaterboarders can get enough air to clear the big trucks on the roadway.
 
If less slope than 1:20 it is not a ramp, it is a sidewalk, and as such is "street legal". Brudgers has it right.
 
jim baird said:
If less slope than 1:20 it is not a ramp, it is a sidewalk, and as such is "street legal". Brudgers has it right.
Click to expand...
Jim and brudgers are right

1:20 or less in slope can go on for eternity and not require landings. You can only require landings when it exceeds 1:20 and it becomes a ramp.
 
imhotep said:
Where does this come from?
Click to expand...
1:20 or less>>>>> Definition of a ramp>>>>Code and ADAAG

25 ft rise>>>>>>OP

500+ LF>>>>>>Estimate of Ramp at 1:20
 
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