Access Management Policy 2013 - Kansas Department of ...

KDOT Access Management Policy
4.4.1.c Tapers
There are four types of tapers to consider when designing an access. The first type of taper is an
access taper and should be used on all access were the highway has an open ditch and deceleration
taper is not required. The taper will be 50 feet long and 8 feet wide as depicted in Figure 4-43. The
tapers should be constructed out of the same material as the new access unless there is an existing
full width paved shoulder.
Figure 4-43. Access taper in undeveloped areas
The second type of taper is a right-turn deceleration taper. This taper is used to aid in the process
of deceleration when turning right from a highway. See Section 4.5 (Auxiliary lanes) for more
information about when this taper is required and how it is designed.
The third and fourth types of tapers work jointly to create an auxiliary lane. The approach is called
the through lane taper and the entrance into the auxiliary lane is called the bay taper (see
Section 4.5.3).
4.4.2 Angle of an access point
The intersection angle between an access point and a state highway places constraints on a motorist
trying to enter or exit the flow of traffic. A motorist is forced to turn his/her head over his/her
shoulder to view approaching traffic when the intersection angle is less than 90 degrees. This
requires additional time to scan the roadway for an adequate gap and more distance and time to
complete an acute angle turning movement. Depending on the degree of the turning angle, a driver
may have difficulty twisting his/her body to see or may have his/her view blocked by passengers.
4 - 46 | Page | January 2013 Chapter 4—Transportation engineering