Wisconsin Administrative Code › Department of Transportation › Chapter Trans 231 - Permits For Driveways And Alterations In State Trunk Highways › Section Trans 231.03 - Location, design and construction requirements - general

Current through June 24, 2024
The location, design, and construction of a driveway shall
				conform to the following:
(1) A
			 driveway shall be located and restricted as to width as necessary so that the
			 entire driveway roadway and its appurtenances are contained within the frontage
			 along the highway of the property served. At public highway intersections a
			 driveway shall not provide direct ingress or egress to or from the public
			 highway intersection area and shall not encroach on or occupy areas of the
			 roadway or right of way deemed necessary for effective traffic control or for
			 highway signs or signals. A driveway shall be so located and constructed that
			 vehicles approaching or using it will have adequate sight distance in both
			 directions along the highway.
(2)
			 The number of driveways permitted serving a single property frontage along a
			 state trunk highway shall be the minimum deemed necessary by the department for
			 reasonable service to the property without undue impairment of safety,
			 convenience, and utility of the highway.
(3) The island area on the right of way
			 between successive driveways or adjoining a driveway and between the highway
			 shoulder and right-of-way line shall remain unimproved for vehicular travel or
			 parking. Such areas shall be considered as restricted and may be filled in or
			 graded down only as hereinafter provided in sub. (7).
(4) The surface of the driveway connecting
			 with rural-type highway sections shall slope down and away from the highway
			 shoulder a sufficient amount and distances to preclude ordinary surface water
			 drainage from the driveway area flowing onto the highway roadbed.
(5) The driveway may not obstruct or impair
			 drainage in highway side ditches or roadside areas. Driveway culverts, where
			 necessary, shall be adequate for surface water drainage along the highway and
			 in no case less than the equivalent of 15-inch diameter pipe. The distance
			 between culverts under successive driveways shall be not less than 10 feet
			 except as such restricted area is permitted to be filled in under the
			 provisions of sub. (7).
(6) When
			 curb or gutter is removed for constructing a driveway, the new connections
			 shall be of equivalent acceptable material and curb returns provided or
			 restored in a neat, workmanlike manner. The driveway surface shall connect with
			 the highway pavement and the sidewalk, if any, in a neat, workmanlike manner.
			 The driveway construction shall include replacement of sidewalk areas which are
			 inadequate or become damaged by reason of vehicular travel across the
			 sidewalk.
(7) The restricted area
			 between successive driveways may be filled in or graded down only when the
			 following requirements are fully complied with:
(a) The filling in or grading down shall be
			 to grades approved by the department and, except where highway drainage is by
			 means of curb and gutter, water drainage of the area shall be directed away
			 from the highway roadbed in a suitable manner.
(b) Culvert extension under the restricted
			 area shall be of like size and equivalent acceptable material of the driveway
			 culvert, and intermediate manholes adequate for clean-out purposes may be
			 required where the total culvert length exceeds 100 feet.
(c) Where no highway side ditch separates the
			 restricted area from the highway roadbed, permanent provision may be required
			 to separate the area from the highway roadbed, to prevent its use for driveway
			 or parking purposes, by construction of a border, curb, rail, or posts deemed
			 adequate by the department.