Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 761 - Transportation Department › Right-of-way and Environment › Chapter 112 - Primary Highway Access Control › Rule 761-112.6 - Location and Design

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
This rule sets criteria for the location and design of access
				  connections to primary highways.
(1)
				Each access connection authorized must be located and designed in accordance
				with this rule. Terms and conditions for location, design, construction and use
				of the access connection shall be established by permit.
(2) The priority of the primary highway
				system is to provide highway corridors with the goal of maintaining traffic
				capacity by limiting disruptions to through traffic. Direct access from
				abutting land is therefore subordinate. Where an adjacent lower traffic volume
				road is available, the access should connect to that roadway.
(3) Private access connections may only be
				considered when there is a reasonable necessity for the access and should be
				separated from other private access connections at a minimum distance equal to
				the sight distance at the posted speed. The burden of proving necessity is on
				the applicant.
(4) An access
				connection must be consistent with the requirements of the assigned access
				category.
(5) Access location
				considerations shall include traffic operations, public safety, sight distance,
				distance to other access locations, traffic speed and volumes, the design
				vehicle for the access and the allowable turning movements.
(6) Restrictive medians may be installed and
				access connection turning movements may be restricted to right turns or
				directional left turns for operational reasons when determined necessary and at
				the sole discretion of the department.
(7) Minimum design criteria may be used only
				when there is a proven and documented necessity that higher standards are not
				feasible at the specific site.
(8)
				When there are access connections on opposite sides of the highway and left
				turns are allowed from both directions, the access connections should be
				opposite each other or have sufficient offset distance so as to prevent
				overlapping left turn maneuvers.
(9) If the access connection requires a turn
				lane, the access connection should be located so the turn lane can be installed
				and no other access connections occur along the turn lane. An access should not
				be installed along a turn lane or taper.
(10) Private access connections should not be
				located within the functional area of a public intersection.
(11) All access connections must meet sight
				distance.
(12) The access shall be
				designed to facilitate the movement of vehicles from the highway to prevent the
				queuing of vehicles on the roadway.
(13) If a proposed access location does not
				comply with this chapter, the access permit shall be denied.
(14) If the department determines that the
				literal application of these rules to a specific situation will create or
				result in an unsafe situation or an unreasonable design, the department shall
				use sound engineering practices to determine the appropriate location and
				design for the specific situation. The department shall include justification
				for the design in the permit or the highway project file, as
				applicable.