The Design Exception Process

The process to evaluate and document a decision to deviate from the adopted design criteria must be deliberative and thorough. Design exception procedures vary to some extent from State to State, but the activities described in this chapter are fundamental to a good design exception process.

Figure 3 shows the six steps in the design exception process as arrows descending from left to right.  The first arrow (farthest left) is labeled "Determine the costs and impacts of meeting design criteria." The second arrow is labeled "Develop and evaluate multiple alternatives." The third arrow is labeled "Evaluate risk." The fourth arrow is labeled "Evaluate Mitigation Measures." The fifth arrow is labeled "Documentation, review, and approval." The sixth and final arrow is labeled "Monitoring and in-service evaluation."

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