Access management to Maryland State highways balances the need to grant access to land with the necessity of keeping the highways safe and the traffic flowing. The manual below provides you with the guidelines you need to meet the asset management requirements of the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA).

1. DRAFT Traffic Impact Study Guidelines (PDF, 231 kb) "Under Review"

2. Hydraulic-Hydrologic Guidelines (PDF, 242 kb) ^{"Updated August 2016"}

3. Technical Guidance ^{"​Updated August 2016"}

   • Chapter 1-Access Point Standards
   • Chapter 2-Entrance Design Standards
   • Chapter 3-Street Connection Design Standards
   • Chapter 4-Site Access Improvement Standards
   • Chapter 5-Technical Design Standards

4. Supplemental Design Guidance ^{"Updated July 2021"}

   • Project Type (PDF, 180 kb)
   • Standard Entrance and Street Connection Details (PDF, 323 kb)
   • Standard Road Widening and Paving Details (PDF, 219 kb)
   • Geotechnical Guidance
     • Type I Pavement Sections
     • Pavement and Geotechnical Report Guidelines
     • Pavement and Geotechnical Design Guidelines
   • Left Turn Lane and Bypass Lane Guidance (PDF, 390 kb)
   • Highway Design Reference (PDF, 539 kb)
   • Environmental Guide for Access Permits
     
   • Practical Design in Access Management
   • ​Covered Walkway Guidelines (PDF, 132 kb) ​^"New"​
   • ​Best Practices for Maintenance of Pedestrian Access During Construction from Other States and Jurisdictions (PDF, 75 kb) ^"New"

Geotechnical Guidance - Routine Pavement Sections

Administrative Forms