Virginia Law

A. VDOT's authority to regulate entrances and manage access to highways is provided in §§ 33.2-223, 33.2-240, 33.2-241, 33.2-242, and 33.2-245 of the Code of Virginia. Each proposed highway entrance creates a potential conflict point that impacts the safe and efficient flow of traffic on the highway; therefore, private property interests in access to the highway must be balanced with public interests of safety and mobility. Managing access to highways can reduce traffic congestion, help maintain the levels of service, enhance public safety by decreasing traffic conflict points, support economic development by promoting the efficient movement of people and goods, reduce the need for new highways and road widening by improving the performance of existing highways, preserve the public investment in new highways by maximizing their efficient operation, and better coordinate transportation and land use decisions.

B. The Commonwealth Transportation Board has the authority to designate highways as limited access and to regulate access rights to those facilities as provided in § 33.2-401 of the Code of Virginia. No private or commercial entrances shall be permitted within limited access rights-of-way except as may be provided for by the regulation titled Change of Limited Access Control (24VAC30-401).

C. The district administrators or their designees are authorized to issue private entrance permits and commercial entrance permits in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.