Shallow foundations for highway structures

This report, which encourages consideration and greater utilization of shallow foundations for highway structures, examines current practices of transportation agencies that make significant use of shallow foundations. Procedures that are not commonly used by transportation agencies but are regarded within the current state-of-the-art of foundation engineering are identified and practices related to bridge foundations are emphasized. Performance criteria for bridge foundations are reviewed in the light of recent studies of performance in relation to foundation movements and compared with criteria for buildings. Case histories are presented to illustrate the potential cost differential between shallow and deep foundations.