Chapter 6 - Cross Section Elements

6.10. Right-of-Way Controls

6.10.1. Rural

In hilly terrain, construction limits vary considerably as the roadway passes through cut and fill sections. In these situations, the required right-of-way will likely vary, so it may be impractical to use a constant right-of-way width.

In flat terrain, it is usually both practical and desirable to establish a minimum right-of-way width that can be used throughout most of the project length. Required right-of-way widths should be set at even offsets from the centerline, typically multiples of 5-ft., unless some physical feature requires otherwise.

Transitions in width, where required, should be as long as practical. If frequent breaks in the right-of-way line are required to increase the width by only 5-ft., for example, serious consideration should be given to increasing the minimum width by 5-ft. for the entire project length.

As a general rule, the required right-of-way line should be set a minimum of 7-ft. to 10-ft. beyond the proposed limits of construction in cut and 10-ft. to 15-ft. beyond the proposed limits of construction in fill. In areas of high fills  a minimum of 20-ft. should be provided beyond the construction limits to provide room for adequate Best Management Practices (BMPs) that are necessary to minimize sediment transport. Extra right-of-way at the top of cut slopes should be provided for the construction of ditches that will intercept surface drainage and minimize slope erosion.

If a future project will potentially connect to either end of the proposed project, the required right-of-way line is extended to the nearest property line beyond the extent of construction, if practical. This is done to avoid buying right-of-way from the property owner on two different occasions. In this case, the project limit will correspond to the limit of the required right-of-way.