DESIGN OF URBAN HIGHWAY LANDSCAPING
LANDSCAPING SHOULD COMPLEMENT THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE ROAD BY PRESERVING NATURAL FEATURES AND ENHANCING APPEARANCE; IT SHOULD SCREEN THE ROAD FROM NEARBY RESIDENCES AND PERHAPS INCLUDE SUCH AMENITIES AS PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND SIMILAR FACILITIES; AND IT SHOULD REDUCE MAINTENANCE NOT ONLY THROUGH EROSION CONTROL BUT BY MINIMIZING THE EXPENSIVE OPERATIONS OF MOWING, LITTER PICKUP, AND SNOW AND ICE CONTROL. IT IS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF LOCATION SELECTION THAT CONSIDERATION OF CROSS-SECTION DESIGN AS RELATED TO DRAINAGE, PLANTING, AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS CAN BE MOST VALUABLE. THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT'S EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL ROADSIDE DEVELOPMENT CAN AID IN ROUTE SELECTION. TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, STRUCTURES SHOULD BE INTEGRATED WITH LANDFORMS AND NATURAL FEATURES. AN ADEQUATE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS ESSENTIAL TO THIS, AS ONE THAT IS TOO NARROW NOT ONLY THREATENS THE INVESTMENT BUT MAKES MEDIANS LESS SERVICEABLE AND BOTH MEDIANS AND ROADSIDES MORE DIFFICULT, EXPENSIVE, AND DANGEROUS TO MAINTAIN. PROPER GEOMETRIC DESIGN AND ROADSIDE DEVELOPMENT ALSO LEND THEMSELVES TO NOISE ABATEMENT, BUT STEEP FILL SLOPES DO NOT LEND THEMSELVES TO PLANTED NOISE BARRIERS. AN ADEQUATE RIGHT-OF-WAY THAT IS PROPERLY DEVELOPED CAN ALSO ENHANCE ADJACENT LAND, E.G. IN THE FORM OF SITTING AREAS, RECREATION FACILITIES, SMALL PARKS, AND MARINAS. IT CAN ALSO PROVIDE SPACE FOR WALKING, CYCLING, AND BRIDGE PATHS. PARTICULAR EMPHASIS SHOULD BE LAID ON A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PLANTING AND VEGETATION. AMONG THE CONSIDERATIONS TO BE OBSERVED ARE URBAN AND RURAL DIFFERENCES, TYPE AND SIZE OF VEGETATION, ECOLOGY, CRITERIA FOR SPECIES SELECTION, IMPLICATIONS FOR MAINTENANCE, CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF SCENIC VERSUS FUNCTIONAL DESIGN, TRAFFIC GUIDANCE, HEADLIGHT GLARE AND NOISE SCREENING, DRIFTING SNOW, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.
- Record URL:
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Supplemental Notes:
- pp 3-14, 12 FIG, 1 APP. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
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Authors:
- Iurka, H H
- Toth, J F
- Tuttle, W S
- Publication Date: 1959-1
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
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Serial:
- Highway Research Board Roadside Development Committee Reports
- Publisher: Highway Research Board
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Design; Geometric design; Highway maintenance; Highways; Landscape design; Location; Medians; Roadside; Roadside improvement; Urban highways; Vegetation; Width
- Uncontrolled Terms: Highway location; Right of way
- Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00205117
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Nov 29 1971 12:00AM