THE FOUR-HOUR FREEWAY Leanne Hinson
CONCEPT Interstate 10
Fast-paced Interstates are the norm for vehicular travel and the regulations that come with this type of transit exclude any sort of aesthetic in its design with its surroundings.
My project will take the 271 mile stretch of I-10 between Baton Rouge and Houston and repurpose the underutilized right of ways along the highway.
Not only would the environmental benefits make this a worthwhile venture, the visual improvements will also enhance the natural beauty of the southern landscape.
Number of Cars
1930 to 1942
Early 1900’s
Landscape Architects develop city parkways
Great Depression
78,000
HISTORY u.s roadway design
1930’s
Automobile boom creates need for improved roadways.
1941
1930 to 1942
Early 1900’s
Landscape Architects develop city parkways
Great Depression
26,501,443 78,000
HISTORY u.s roadway design
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The Federal Aid Highway Act is instituted resulting in the modern-day interstate system.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
1950-1975
Great Depression
1944
1930’s
Automobile boom creates need for improved roadways.
1941
1930 to 1942
Early 1900’s
Landscape Architects develop city parkways
Vietnam War
31,024,300 26,501,443 78,000
HISTORY u.s roadway design
1944 Attack on Pearl Harbor
1950-1975
Great Depression
1956
The Federal Aid Highway Act is instituted resulting in the modern-day interstate system.
1930’s
Automobile boom creates need for improved roadways.
1941
1930 to 1942
Early 1900’s
Landscape Architects develop city parkways
The interstate system is expanded to 41,000 miles. Engineering standards are set.
Vietnam War
74,220,320
31,024,300 26,501,443 78,000
19.0
10.0
10.0
CL
SIDE SLOPE
SERVICE ROAD
HISTORY u.s roadway design
37.0
10.0
12.0
6.0
12.0
CL TRAFFIC LANE
MEDIAN
SHOULDER (RIGHT)
ROADWAY
SHOULDER (LEFT)
109.0
6.0
12.0
12.0
10.0
30.0
CL TRAFFIC LANE
MEDIAN
SHOULDER (LEFT)
ROADWAY
SHOULDER (RIGHT)
SIDE SLOPE
The interstate system is expanded to 41,000 miles. Engineering standards are set.
31,024,300
78,000
HISTORY u.s roadway design
Interstate 10 undergoes construction. 2,460 miles.
Vietnam War
74,220,320
26,501,443
1957
1944 Attack on Pearl Harbor
1950-1975
Great Depression
1956
The Federal Aid Highway Act is instituted resulting in the modern-day interstate system.
1930’s
Automobile boom creates need for improved roadways.
1941
1930 to 1942
Early 1900’s
Landscape Architects develop city parkways
74,431,800
1964
Vietnam War
74,220,320
31,024,300 26,501,443 78,000
HISTORY u.s roadway design
Interstate 10 undergoes construction. 2,460 miles.
1965
The interstate system is expanded to 41,000 miles. Engineering standards are set.
1957
1944 Attack on Pearl Harbor
1950-1975
Great Depression
1956
The Federal Aid Highway Act is instituted resulting in the modern-day interstate system.
1930’s
Automobile boom creates need for improved roadways.
1941
1930 to 1942
Early 1900’s
Landscape Architects develop city parkways
74,431,800
Highway Beautification Act made provisions for environmental considerations.
Civil Rights Act
91,739,623
1964
Vietnam War
Civil Rights Act
2014-
Highway Beautification Act made provisions for environmental considerations.
1969
Interstate 10 undergoes construction. 2,460 miles.
1965
The interstate system is expanded to 41,000 miles. Engineering standards are set.
1957
1944 Attack on Pearl Harbor
1950-1975
Great Depression
1956
The Federal Aid Highway Act is instituted resulting in the modern-day interstate system.
1930’s
Automobile boom creates need for improved roadways.
1941
1930 to 1942
Early 1900’s
Landscape Architects develop city parkways
Landscape Architects must regain their place in cross-continental developments.
First man on the moon
253,108,389 74,220,320
31,024,300 26,501,443 78,000
HISTORY u.s roadway design
74,431,800
91,739,623
Project Boundaries Cardinal Directions, Total Square Miles
ANALYSIS
Existing Conditions Ecosystems, Plant Communities, Population Density, Soil Survey, Watersheds, Wildlife Refuges
Road Conditions Typical Road Section, Rest Stop, State Line, Entrance Ramp
Immediate Upgrades Visually improving the Interstate.
PROGRAM
Greening Improvements Improve / Restore Wildlife Corridors, Use of Low-Maintenance Plantings, Using Plantings for Place-Marking.
Program Improvements More User-Responsive Elemants.
Early Win Projects Graffiti eradication, Lighting, Landscape Preparation, Trash and Debris Control, Power Washing and Painting
SOLUTION
Greening Improvements No-Mow Areas, Seasonal Color Plants, Restoration of Plant Communities, Water-Retention opportunities.
Program Improvements Rest Stop Additions, Cultural Markers, Art and Educational Installations
Project Boundaries Cardinal Directions, Total Square Miles
ANALYSIS
Existing Conditions Ecosystems, Plant Communities, Population Density, Soil Survey, Watersheds, Wildlife Refuges
Road Conditions Typical Road Section, Rest Stop, State Line, Entrance Ramp
HOUSTON
PROJECT BOUNDARIES 1:20mi
BATON ROUGE
271 miles of driving boredom through exciting landscape ecologies, this portion of Interstate 10 provides a unique opportunity to reclaim the role Landscape Architects previously had in roadway design by designing multiple facets of this driving experience.
Floodplains and Low Terraces Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies Lafayette Loess Plains Southern Pleistocene Valley Trains Southern Blackswamps Inland Swamps Baton Rouge Terrace
ECOSYSTEMS 1:20mi
An Ecostytem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. Interstate 10 intercepts nine unique ecosystems, allowing it to address a plethera of conditions otherwise left seperated.
HOUSTON
BEAUMONT
POPULATION DENSITY 1:20mi
LAKE CHARLES
LAFAYETTE
BATON ROUGE
Land-use develops around transportation systems and marking where populaions are currently expanding will help decide where road-side amenities are placed.
Gulf Coast Praries Gulf Coast Marsh Western Gulf Coast Flatwoods
Southern Mississippi River Alluvium Southern Mississippi River Loess
SOIL SURVEY 1:20mi
Knowledge about characteristics of soils, and soil interactions with other factors, helps people predict and control the influences of human and natural phenomena. It also will help determine any structures or plant communites being used in this design.
WATERSHED 1:20mi
Surface water resources in Louisiana are used for a wide variety of purposes including human consumption, agricultural irrigation, transportation, industrial processes, recreation, seafood production, wildlife and so much more. A great portion of the Louisiana economy and cultural heritage is directly linked to the surface water resources that exist today.
WILDLIFE CORRIDOR 1:20mi
As an added component of this design, Wildlife issues will be addressed in the form of protecting existing refuges and creating and enhancing wildlife corridors. A Wildlife Corridor is an area that connects wildlife habitats seperated by human structures.
Immediate Upgrades Visually improving the Interstate.
PROGRAM
Greening Improvements Improve / Restore Wildlife Corridors, Use of Low-Maintenance Plantings, Using Plantings for Place-Marking.
Program Improvements More User-Responsive Elemants.
30.0
10.0
12.0
6.0
12.0
CL TRAFFIC LANE SHOULDER (RIGHT)
ROADWAY
SHOULDER (LEFT)
TYPICAL ROAD CONDITIONS current driving experience
109.0
6.0
12.0
12.0
10.0
30.0
CL TRAFFIC LANE
MEDIAN
SHOULDER (LEFT)
ROADWAY
SHOULDER (RIGHT)
SIDE SLOPE
Plant trees in medians for visual and physical barriers
Plant lowmaintanence grasses to cut mowing costs.
IMPROVED ROAD CONDITIONS enhancing the driving experience
Thicken tree line to block noise.
East Bound Rest Stop
SAMPLE PLANTING PLAN greening the driving experience
Mowed Grass for Clear Line of Site
Seeded Strips
Planted Tree Line
Low Maintanence Grasses
Early Win Projects Graffiti eradication, Lighting, Landscape Preparation, Trash and Debris Control, Power Washing and Painting
SOLUTION
Greening Improvements No-Mow Areas, Seasonal Color Plants, Restoration of Plant Communities, Water-Retention opportunities, Wildlife Bridge.
Program Improvements Rest Stop Additions, Cultural Markers, Art and Educational Installations
Graffiti Eradication Removal of graffiti along Interstate 10 will offer a cleaner mode of travel and provide a blank slate for art installations in a later phase.
Lighting Improvement Baytown, Texas upgraded their interstate lighting from high pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures to Cree LEDway LED street lights and has dramatically improved the quality of roadway lighting and visibility for motorists. The LED lighting is saving roughly $30,000/year.
VISUAL MAINTENANCE improving the driving experience
TRASH CONTROL responsible information
Implementing recycling infographics, especially geared towards road-side trash, should decrease the amount of trash tossed on the right of ways.
NO-MOWING AREAS native planting
Approx: $1,000,000 / Mowing Job Approx: $3,000,000 / Year
A-28 Turnpike This is the construction of a wildlife bridge along the A-28 Turnpike in France, designed by Bernard Lassus.
I-78 Part of the Watchung Reservation, this bridge allows a connection for the wildlife living there.
ARC Design Competition The ARC International Wildlife Crossing hosted a competition for a design proposal which can improve the safety for both the people and the wildlife over the I-70 Highway Corridor in Denver, Colorado.
WILDLIFE BRIDGE habitat reconnection
ART INSTALLATION improving the user experience