What is Access
Management?
Access management is
the proper planning and design of access to the public roadway
system that helps ensure traffic flow more smoothly, with fewer
crashes, which means everyone travels safer. Access management
guidelines include proper spacing of interchanges, public road
intersections, traffic signals and driveways.
Roads with poor access
management experience more traffic crashes (up to 68 percent of
all crashes are access related), negative impacts for adjacent
property owners, and loss of public and private investment in
the roadway system. In fact, according to national studies, more
than two-thirds of roadway crashes result from access-related
problems. This can affect everyone, because roadways not only
provide a way for travelers to get from Point A to Point B, but
they also provide access to neighboring property. Access management
helps balance the roadways’ role of navigating traffic safely
and smoothly with adequate property access.
Access Management
Guidelines Help Missouri
As roadways develop
and traffic increases, many highways become congested, and drivers
face increasing delays and crashes. Too many improperly located
streets and driveways, combined with high vehicle traffic, can
also lead to crashes and injuries. Keeping motorists moving safely
and efficiently along Missouri highways is MoDOT’s top priority.
One tool MoDOT uses to get that job done is access management,
and new guidelines will help promote statewide consistency and
better access management.
Benefits of
Access Management
Using access management
to solve traffic-related problems offers these important benefits:
