Corridor Access Management

Access management refers to the design, application, and control of entry and exit points along a roadway. This includes intersections with other roads and driveways that serve adjacent properties. Thoughtful access management along a corridor can simultaneously enhance safety for all modes, facilitate walking and biking, and reduce trip delay and congestion.

Every intersection, from a signalized intersection to an unpaved driveway, has the potential for conflicts between vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The number and types of conflict points—locations where the travel paths of two users intersect—influence the safety performance of the intersection or driveway. FHWA developed corridor-level crash prediction models to estimate and analyze the safety effects of selected access management techniques for different area types, land uses, roadway variables, and traffic volumes.¹

The following access management strategies can be used individually or in combination with one another:

• Reduce density through driveway closure, consolidation, or relocation.
• Manage spacing of intersection and access points.
• Limit allowable movements at driveways (such as right-in/right-out only).
• Place driveways on an intersection approach corner rather than a receiving corner, which is expected to have fewer total crashes.²
• Implement raised medians that preclude across-roadway movements.
• Utilize designs such as roundabouts or reduced left-turn conflicts (such as restricted crossing U-turn, median U-turns, etc.).
• Provide turn lanes (i.e., left-only, right-only, or interior two-way left).
• Use lower speed one-way or two-way off-arterial circulation roads.

Successful corridor access management involves balancing overall safety and mobility for all users along with the needs of adjacent land uses.