Impacts of Automated Vehicles on Highway Infrastructure

Understanding today’s technology needs and future technology timelines can help infrastructure owners and operators (IOOs) plan and design their networks to maximize AV safety potential.

This document provides an overview of a multiphase research effort that involved a comprehensive literature review, engagement with highway IOOs, and interviews with industry experts and key stakeholders to document the potential impact of AVs on highway infrastructure. The research team identified the state of the practice among IOOs, knowledge gaps, and agency preparedness levels for the impact of AV use on highway infrastructure. This document does not cover the operations or policy aspects of AV infrastructure impacts because its goal is to provide information to IOOs as they prepare for the eventual infrastructure evolution driven by AV deployment.