Changes Associated with Converting Frontage Roads from Two-way to One-way Operation

This paper examines changes in the opinions of abutting property owners, the types of land use, and the crash frequency associated with the conversion of the frontage roads along a central Arkansas freeway from two-way to one-way operation. It was found that owners and managers of businesses along the frontage roads felt that they had been negatively affected by the conversion. An analysis of land use changes after conversion suggests that any real negative effects were not great enough to cause a change in land use that differed from the changes experienced by two control-section routes parallel to the freeway. An analysis of traffic volumes and collisions showed that even though freeway volumes increased by 25% after the completion of construction, combined collisions on the main lanes, the frontage roads, and the ramps decreased by 1/3rd. Even though a particular community or interest group was not pleased with the change, it would seem that the overall public benefited from greatly improved safety.