Interchange Feasibility Studies

FHWA and state departments of transportation have made significant financial investments in the interstate system. Attempting to balance the need for access with the need to maintain a high level of travel service in terms of safety and mobility, these agencies have adopted interchange justification and modification polices to ensure that access decisions are properly administered to protect their investment. FHWA Document 98-3460 serves as the primary policy requirement, providing the minimum criteria for new or revised access that must be met for FHWA approval consideration. To be considered, access proposals are required to demonstrate insufficiency in the existing interchanges, lack of viable alternatives for improvements, no adverse impact on safety and operation of the interstate, and consistency with regional land use and transportation plans.

PBS&J has an in-depth knowledge of FHWA’s interchange approval policy criteria, and has provided access request services to numerous public and private clients throughout the U.S. Although the names for these requests vary, the intent is to provide a solution that maximizes the efficiency of the transportation system, while minimizing potential impacts to the interstate and local roadways. PBS&J fully understands the requirements to successfully complete interstate access request studies and works closely with the access requestor and the coordinating transportation decision makers to ensure that the best solution is the one approved and constructed.

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