Access Management is an effort to maintain the effective flow of traffic and the safety of all roads while accommodating the access needs of adjacent land development. Successful access management requires cooperation between land use and transportation interests in order to protect the public's investment in Minnesota's roads. Back to top Different roads serve different purposes. Freeways and highways provide movement for through traffic. Local roads provide access to local land uses.
Conflicts occur when one roadway is asked to perform unintended functions.
Building more and wider roads will not solve our congestion problems in Minnesota. The challenge into the next millennium will be to manage our existing roadway system in an environment of rising demands. Effective access management begins with thoughtful community development and roadway design. Access management can help improve the safety and efficiency of the roadways so they function as they were designed. It can also help preserve community character, promote economic development, and protect the public investment in our road system.