According to the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, roadside drainage channel is an open channel usually paralleling the highway embankment and within limits of the ROW. The primary function of a drainage channel is to collect surface runoff from the roadway and areas that drain to the ROW and to convey the accumulated runoff to acceptable outlet points. Drainage channels must be designed to carry the design runoff and to accommodate excessive storm water with minimal roadway flooding or damage. The design frequency should correspond with the storm drain frequency. For details of roadway safety design which governs ditch shape design, see the Roadway Design Manual, Chapter 2, Section 6, , and , and Chapter 2, Section 7, . Where the Roadway Design Manual requirements can’t be met, the channel will have to be enclosed in a pipe or box. See Chapter 10, .