Office of the Special Assistant for Transportation Engineering Highways for National Defense

Highways for National Defense (HND)

In accordance with 32 C.F.R. § 193, it shall be the policy of the DOD to integrate the highway needs of the national defense into the civil highway programs of the various State and Federal agencies and cooperate with those agencies in matters pertaining to the use of public highways and in planning their development and construction.

In order to fulfill the mission of SDDCTEA, the two most important functions of Highway Systems are to:

Identify the minimum public highway infrastructure that DOD needs to fulfill its mission; then integrate these public highway needs into civil policies, plans, and programs.
Ensure the defense readiness capability of public highway infrastructure and establish policy on how DOD uses the public highway system.

HND works with the Military Services, MACOM's, military installations, ports, US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), State transportation departments, and Congress to accomplish these goals. HND works continuously with these organizations to refine and monitor the DOD's minimum public highway needs through the Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET) and STRAHNET Connector Routes.

In addition, we address policy inquiries and provide guidance on safe and efficient DOD use of the public highway system. As needed, we assist the military in highway movement problems, work to ensure highway safety, and help guarantee the highways' readiness condition for deployment.

We have identified DOD's public highway needs in the STRAHNET. STRAHNET is a system of highways, including the Interstate System. The system includes the “last mile” of STRAHNET Connectors that link important military installations and ports to major components of the STRAHNET. Together, STRAHNET and the Connectors define the total minimum public highway network necessary to support Defense deployment needs.

In addition, we also establish policy and provide guidance on how the DOD uses the public highway system. We assist the military in highway movement problems, work to ensure highway safety, and help guarantee the highways' readiness condition for deployment.

As directed by regulation, DOD must be a good steward in the use of public highways. This is to ensure the safety of the traveling public and military members as well as limit the liability of the DOD. This stewardship includes the requirement to obtain permits for vehicles that exceed size or weight limits as established by individual States. Detailed policy and procedures can be found in the Defense Transportation Regulations produced by USTRANSCOM. States, counties and cities are responsible for vehicle operations on their highways, including movement on the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Limitations on dimensions, weight and/or other characteristics of vehicle movement over roads and bridges are necessary to ensure the safe passage and prevent damage to highway infrastructure. Other limitations, including hours of movement for oversize/overweight, or other shipments, are predicated on traffic congestion periods and hazardous operating conditions. Limitations are determined by each jurisdiction and can vary considerably. It is imperative that the military services comply with all size and weight ordinances.