Access Control Plans

Access control plans, also known as access management plans, supplement the regulations on access to County roads found in the County Code by analyzing the conditions specific to a particular road, the existing accesses on it, and alternative (side road) access.

Please also see the Public Works Permits page of our website for information about Access Permits.

What is the goal of Access Control Plans?

The main goal is to improve safety. Each access point creates potential conflicts between through-traffic and traffic using that access. Each conflict is a potential crash. Access management improves safety by separating access points so that turning and crossing movements occur at fewer locations. This allows drivers passing through an area to predict where other drivers will turn and cross. Keeping accesses farther apart also provides space to add turn lanes, if necessary. Sometimes a secondary goal is to coordinate with cities and towns on or near the road prior to expending funds on improvements to a road. This helps ensure more continuity of regulations that affect traffic flow, such as access spacing, and other transportation matters. When a city or town annexes property it usually annexes the adjacent road and takes over maintenance and regulation of access and other matters on it. It makes sense to try to avoid having conflicting regulations on a road or corridor.