Section 6: Emergency Crossovers
Anchor: #i1013318Overview
Emergency crossovers between divided roadways are sometimes necessary for use by official vehicles (e.g., law enforcement, emergency responders, or traffic incident management).
Anchor: #i1013329Location
When selecting the location for an emergency crossover, the following guidance should be used:
- Anchor: #TMHRKAQG
- In general, emergency crossovers should not be provided on urban roadways due to the close spacing of interchanges. Anchor: #UNGAPGKM
- Where the spacing of interchanges is greater than approximately 3 miles, an emergency crossover should be considered at a favorable location about halfway between interchanges. Anchor: #UGLDJGCW
- In no case should an emergency crossover be spaced at less than 1-mile intervals. Anchor: #CKIOYNYM
- All emergency crossovers should be at least 0.5 mile from any structure that crosses over a roadway and at least 1 mile from any ramp terminal or other access connection, such as those serving safety rest areas. Anchor: #BYELADPT
- Emergency crossovers should be located where adequate stopping sight distance is available and where the median is sufficiently wide to permit an official vehicle to turn between the inner lanes. Anchor: #DNHRXSYM
- When emergency crossovers are desired on divided facilities with continuous concrete barrier for medians not meeting clear zone requirements of Table 2-12, use TxDOT's Barrier Gate Standard to bridge the opening. Anchor: #IWAGEMXO
- Emergency crossovers should not be located in curves requiring superelevation, unless engineering judgement determines the location is safe and reasonable for official use. Anchor: #FXNEUKVT
- Emergency crossovers should also be as inconspicuous to the traveling public as possible. Refer to the TMUTCD for the appropriate regulatory signing of emergency crossovers.
Construction
Location and type of emergency crossovers should be made a part of the PS&E as a contract item and should be installed as such. Refer to Appendix A Section 9, Emergency Crossovers for additional details regarding the design and construction of emergency crossovers.