| Special Feature
Beautification Trends: How States
Approach Them
Beautification means different things to the
various DOTs. Some want to please drivers; others see it mostly as
another source for funding.
by Karen
Stidger, Contributing Editor
Results of a recent Better Roads beautification project
survey show that a growing number of highway departments include
aesthetics in bridge and road facility design and planning. Local
governments and community and environmental groups are often included in
the development of both new and upgrade projects, as well.
Types of beautification projects range from planting wildflowers and
other seasonal landscaping to choosing architectural features that blend
in with surrounding communities.
Some projects display context sensitive design, while others are purely
practical. For example, West Virginia is replacing traditional snow fences
with living fences of trees and shrubs. Not only are they more attractive,
they also reduce the need for repair and replacement.
In another example, Missouri’s native plantings highway project
returns disturbed land back to its native state, eliminating erosion and
reducing maintenance. Still other communities seed to help eliminate
noxious weeds.
A growing number of projects include bike paths and pedestrian walkways
for public enjoyment. The new Noyo River Bridge in Northern California
will include both of these features along with openwork railings, which
facilitate ocean views.
Motivations
Reasons for beautification projects are as varied as the types of
projects. In some areas, tourism is a major industry. Hawaii, for
instance, used the Lihue Gateway Beautification Project to create an entry
statement to the Island of Kauai.
Other motivations are community pride, desire to preserve architectural
history, and one-time ventures. In one illustration, North Carolina
included a special planting of annual flowers when they hosted the Special
Olympics World Games.
In another project, the City of West Hollywood, California, purchased a
rundown 3-mile section of historic Route 66 from CalTrans. The $34-million
Santa Monica Boulevard Reconstruction Project renovated sewers, street,
traffic lights, curbs, and created a city center to be enjoyed by all
residents and visitors.
Still another motivation is the fact that federal funds are available
for some types of beautification, and those can help stretch the state’s
own budget.
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When the Los Angeles North Broadway Bridge(left),
originally built in 1912, needed earthquake retrofitting, it
presented an opportunity to reintroduce the stylized elements that
had been removed from the bridge in the 1930s. The ornamental
three-globe electroliers and massive beaux-art pylons were
replicated from historic drawings. |
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| On a Maryland DOT
project (above), Six M and Hunt Valley Contractors built a
replacement bridge over the I-695 Baltimore beltway. The project
received a 2001 Excellence in Concrete Award from the American
Concrete Institute. The gateway theme project is part of Maryland’s
Thinking Beyond the Pavement efforts. Designers worked with local
government, businesses, and the community to develop a structure
that would compliment the existing buildings and the newly
constructed Towson Roundabout in the heart of the business
district. Built with local Butler stone and matching stone
formliner, the structure is adorned with the town logo and
ornamental picket fencing and streetlights. |
 This
new Maumee-Perrysburg Bridge (left) will cost $9.12 million and
have four lanes with provisions for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The new alignment will cross the river in a crescent shape,
eliminating sharp curves on both approaches to the bridge.
Carrying through traffic for U.S. Route 20 and State Route 25, the
structure will replace a badly decayed, 1928 seven-span concrete
arch bridge. The contractor is Mosser Construction, Freemont,
Ohio. |
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Roadside flowers (left) are part of
the I-26/SC 60 Interchange Beautification Vision Project in the
town of Irmo. South Carolina’s ambitious Beautification Vision
Program is designed to create a lasting impression on travelers by
providing color along interstate routes about every 15 minutes or
22 miles. The program includes 50 interchanges that will be
enhanced for the wow effect. The projects are funded with federal
enhancement funds and are dependent on communities partnering with
SCDOT to provide long-term maintenance and irrigation. Future
projects include two I-95 Orangeburg County Liberty Gardens
providing a living tribute to our nation, the resilience and
strength of its people, and the lives taken on September 11, 2001. |
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In New Jersey, Schiavone, Inc. worked
on the Route 35 Coopers Bridge over the Navesink River (left).
Built in 1925, the original bridge had no major reconstruction
during its 73-year life. The new bridge accommodates traffic and
pedestrian flows. Decorative lighting, textured side panels, and
brick-patterned walkways complement the distinctive and historic
character of the surrounding communities. To ensure success of the
project, a Constructive Outreach Team included the community in
the design and planning process. |
Reprinted from Better Roads Magazine
November 2002 |
