Architecture, Engineering & Planning EVstudio | Denver & Evergreen Architect | Colorado & Central Texas | Blog

Bump-outs (also known as "curb extensions") have become commonplace in many subdivisions across the country.  They are also common in the existing neighborhoods as a means of traffic-calming.  The purpose is to provide an additional element in protecting the vehicles parked on the street and enabling shorter, safer crossing for the pedestrian at the intersection.  The bump-out can be a costly add-on for a neighborhood considering the additional curb that is involved and additional measures that need to be taken to handle stormwater.  Careful consideration should be given whether a bump-out is most appropriate per the situation.  In the instances where bump-outs are desired, I have developed a few variations of the bump-out that can effectively manage stormwater with infiltration, calm traffic and ease the costs of additional curbing.   

A Bump-Out or Curb Extension can be an effective way to manage storm water and calm traffic.

 The bump-out image to the right is an alternative to the conventional bump-out where the planting level is reccessed to gather stormwater. The details of this go much further than the illustration shows including the ground plane materials, transition in height from curb to plantings, grading and hydrological features. This bump-out is appropriate and most effective in T-4 (General Urban Zone) along the urban-to-rural transect, however modifications of it may also be effective in some instances of T-5 (Urban Center Zone).

1. HOA Landscape Retrofit – Spacing for Planting
2. Colorado Water Rights and Temporary Detention of Direct Flow Rights
3. Solar Hot Water Radiant Heat
4. Civil Engineering and Land Surveying Services Offered By EVstudio