U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

MEMORANDUM

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Military Traffic Command Transportation Engineering Agency (MTMCTEA) of the Department of Defense have cooperated to meet the demands of the military traffic on the Interstate System, particularly in the area of vertical clearance.  On January 1, 2004, MTMCTEA changed its name to the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Transportation Agency (SDDCTEA).  The SDDCTEA has also relocated from Virginia to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.  These changes have necessitated a revision to the contact information for vertical clearance design exceptions.

The coordination and reporting with SDDCTEA on all design exceptions for vertical clearance is to ensure they are aware of the location of nonstandard clearances on the Interstate System in the event a defense emergency arises.  The military continues to have a need for the 16-ft (4.9m) clearance.  While the size of future equipment that may use the Interstate System is unknown, SDDCTEA needs to ensure options remain for the routing of military equipment.

All exceptions to the 16-ft (4.9m) vertical clearance standard on rural Interstate routes or on a single Interstate route through urban areas must be coordinated with SDDCTEA.  This vertical clearance standard on the Interstate System is contained in “A Policy on Design Standards – Interstate System”, AASHTO 2005.  Information on Coordination of Design Exception for Vertical Clearance on the interstate can be found at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/design/design_standards.cfm

All requests for coordination should contact the SDDCTEA at:

Director, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command Transportation Engineering Agency (SDDCTEA)
ATTN: SDTE-SA
709 Ward Drive, Building 1990
Scott AFB, IL 62225
Telephone: 618-220-5229, Fax: 618-220-5125

A format similar to the attachment may be used to provide the information necessary for coordination. Two previous FHWA memoranda from 1997 and 1999 on policy, procedures and the role in coordinating with SDDCTEA are attached.

National security has and always will be one of FHWA’s highest priorities.  Accordingly, FHWA, in cooperation with the State Departments of Transportation, need to continue coordinating with SDDCTEA to achieve the vertical clearance necessary to satisfy the needs of all agencies.

Please contact either Michael Matzke at michael.matzke@dot.gov, or Brooke Struve at brooke.struve@dot.gov, if you have any questions or need any additional information.

Attachments

• FHWA Memorandum of August 15, 1997
• FHWA Memorandum of September 17, 1999
• Form for Coordination
• Form for Coordination - MS Word (.docx)

CC: SDDC

To:Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDCTEA)
ATTN: SDTE-SA
Contact: Mr. Jason Cowin, P.E.
Telephone: (618) 220-5229
Fax: (618) 220-5125
E-mail: jason.cowin@us.army.mil

From: Federal Highway Administration
(State) Division or DOT
Contact/Title:
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail Address:
Date to SDDCTEA:
Date response is requested by:
--Above information is to be completed by the FHWA or State DOT--

Interstate Vertical Clearance Exception Coordination

1. Structure Location:

State:
Country:

Route: I-
Direction:
Milepost:

(mark an “x” on the appropriate line)
Rural
Urban Single Routing

Overpass Route:
Include a map showing the general vicinity.

2. Structure NBI number:

3. Project Description:

Estimated Total Project Cost: $

4. Location (e.g., driving lane, passing lane, shoulder, ramp, C-D Road, etc.) and description of the substandard clearance:

Through Lane(s)
Existing:  m (  ft)
Proposed:  m (  ft)

Shoulder(s)
Existing:  m (  ft)
Proposed:  m (  ft)

Aux./Ramp (Interstate to Interstate)
Existing:  m (  ft)
Proposed:  m (  ft)

5. Description of work required to achieve the 4.9m (16.0 ft) clearance:

Estimated additional cost to obtain 4.9m (16.0ft) clearance: $

6. Reason why 4.9m (16.0ft) vertical clearance cannot be attained:

7. Alternate route with 4.9m (16.0ft) vertical clearance:

8. Anticipated schedule for future project(s) which will correct or improve the substandard clearance: 

Future Project
Year:
Anticipated Clearance:  m (  ft)

Future project not programmed

9. Names of nearby military installations or ports:

Remarks

19 MAR 2008
INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR VERTICAL CLEARANCE
DESIGN EXCEPTION COORDINATION WITH SDDCTEA
(FOR FHWA or STATE DOT USE)

E-MAIL COORDINATION FORM (INCLUDING VICINITY MAP) TO:
jason.cowin@us.army.mil

1. STRUCTURE LOCATION –
Direction – EB, WB, NB, or SB
Overpass Route – include route name and number

2. STRUCTURE NBI NUMBER – National Bridge Inventory reference number

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION - pavement rehabilitation, pavement preservation, etc.
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST – self-explanatory

4. LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBSTANDARD CLEARANCE - dual units of the existing and proposed clearance are preferred – Metric (meters in decimals) and English (feet and inches).

5. DESCRIPTION OF WORK REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE 4.9m (16.0ft) CLEARANCE – self-explanatory
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL COST TO OBTAIN 4.9m (16.0ft) CLEARANCE –  self-explanatory

6. REASON WHY 4.9m (16.0ft) VERTICAL CLEARANCE CANNOT BE ATTAINED – high cost, environmental issues, etc.

7. ALTERNATE ROUTE WITH 4.9m (16.0ft) VERTICAL CLEARANCE - alternate route around each substandard-vertical-clearance substructure.  The alternate route should have standard vertical clearances.  If at least one standard vertical clearance through-lane exists (in both directions), this can be considered an alternate route. A diamond interchange can provide an alternate route.

8. ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE FOR FUTURE PROJECTS WHICH WILL CORRECT OR IMPROVE THE SUBSTANDARD VERTICAL CLEARANCE – include type of project (bridge replacement, etc) and year programmed

9. NAMES OF NEARBY MILITARY INSTALLATIONS OR PORTS – self-explanatory

10. REMARKS – self-explanatory