GLENWOOD CANYON INTERSTATE 70: A PRELIMINARY DESIGN PROCESS THAT WORKED

After nearly 20 years of study and 10 years of controversy and debate about the construction of an Interstate highway through picturesque Glenwood Canyon, the Colorado Department of Highways has developed and implemented a unique design development process that has won widespread public support for the project. The way seems to now be clear for closing one of the last gaps in the Colorado Interstate system. The open planning and design process allowed maximum public participation not only in the identification and preservation of critical environmental and recreational factors but also in the selection of technical design concepts for the highway. The design development process demonstrated how a politically and publicly controversial project received endorsement from virtually all elements of the public. The process is unique in that it used sports enthusiasts, naturalists, artists, and many lay persons to evaluate and decide on highly technical design issues and asked scientists, engineers, architects, and construction contractors to identify and demonstrate environmental, recreational, social, and aesthetic impacts. Modern design tools, including computer graphics, electronic survey instruments, and photo montages, were mixed with artists' drawings, sketches, models, and field mock-ups to suggest final alignments and grades, locate structures, pinpoint roadside facilities, and resolve safety issues. Completion of the design development process has culminated in the holding of a design public hearing, insurance of a design report that has been accepted by the vast majority of interested agencies and individuals, and design approval by the Federal Highway Administration. Use of the methodology developed in this process will provide an alternative to delays, repetitious studies, public and political controversy, increased costs, and litigation.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1980/757/757-001.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=GLENWOOD+CANYON+INTERSTATE+70%3A+A+PRELIMINARY+DESIGN+PROCESS+THAT+WORKED&author=R.+Prosence&author=J.+Haley&publication_year=1980
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Landscape and Environmental Design. 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
• Authors:
  • Prosence, Richard A
  • Haley, John L
• Conference:
  • 59th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1980-1-21 to 1980-1-25
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 1-7
• Monograph Title: Facility design and operational effects
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 757
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Alignment; Computer graphics; Distance measuring equipment; Electronic equipment; Environmental impacts; Highway design; Highway planning; Interstate highways; Public participation; Public relations; Recreational facilities; Roadside improvement; Slopes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Grades; Public support
• Geographic Terms: Glenwood Canyon (Colorado)
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Terminals and Facilities; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00325981
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309030714
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 21 1981 12:00AM