Synthesis: Prevention of Unauthorized Freeway Exits and Entrances

Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT's) I-20 Corridor Study includes a major safety goal to mitigate illegal ramp crossings between frontage roads and main lines. Illegal crossings on controlled access roadways occur in several TxDOT districts, in other states and countries. TxDOT leadership and law enforcement have emphasized during TV news broadcasts that illegal crossing have resulted in crashes, caused damage to grassy medians, caused fires if grass is dry, resulted in vehicles becoming stuck in mud or soft soils. Illegal crossings are made by motorists to bypass traffic back-ups due to an accident, roadway construction, peak-hour traffic congestion, or to access a frontage road business that is not near a ramp. The research team will identify and assess methods to deter illegal crossings through a literature review, a national survey of DOTs and local transportation agencies, and a survey of TxDOT districts. District site visits will further help determine the causes of illegal crossings including an assessment of adjacent land use, spacing of ramps, number of illegal crossings, and an evaluation of deterrent efficiency. This information will be used to develop an Outline of a Recommended Plan to implement deterrents.

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Active
  • Funding: $64964
  • Contract Numbers:

    0-7204

  • Sponsor Organizations:

    Texas Department of Transportation

    125 E. 11th Street
    Austin, TX  United States  78701-2483
  • Project Managers:

    Kasberg, Katelyn

  • Performing Organizations:

    Center for Transportation Research

    3925 W. Braker Lane
    Austin, TX  United States  78759
  • Principal Investigators:

    Murphy, Michael

  • Start Date: 20240901
  • Expected Completion Date: 20250831
  • Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01928243
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
  • Contract Numbers: 0-7204
  • Files: RIP, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Aug 23 2024 12:55PM