Civil Engineering Association

Geometric Design of Driveways

Driveways are private roads that provide access (both ingress and egress) between a public way and abutting properties, and any facilities on those properties. The roadway engineers’ focus is often on a part of the driveway, the area where the driveway intersects the public highway or street. Since these connections form the link or interface between public streets and highways and the activities they serve, driveways are an integral part of the roadway transportation system. There has been relatively little comprehensive research on or national guidance for the geometric design of driveways in recent decades. The objective of this project was to develop recommendations for geometric design of driveways that will be useful to state departments of transportation, local governments, and consultants in preparing driveway design standards and practices. The project included an extensive review of related literature, a survey of transportation agencies, a listing of almost 100 factors that can affect the design of a driveway, a list of needed research topics, and research on issues related to driveway vertical alignment. The project produced two documents, the project report and a driveway design guide.