Transportation
Enhancements
Peaks to Plains Design provided landscape architectural
services for a new rest area to be built along Interstate
90 near Anaconda, Montana. The design concept includes two
new picnic shelters, planting design for microclimate control
and trail connections to the Greenway Service District’s
regional trail corridor. The building, walkways and vegetation
placement takes into account the view of the old Anaconda
Copper Company smelter stack, completed on May 5, 1919,
which
is one of the tallest free-standing brick structures in
the world at 585 feet, 1.5 inches. In addition, the design
team worked with community groups to place a large, steel
smelter “ladle” on
site to provide for an interpretative opportunity on Anaconda’s
rich history.
Peaks to Plains Design is part of a design team for an IDIQ
contract for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The
firm is also part of several design teams pre-qualified to
perform consultant work with Montana Department of Transportation
(MDT).
Peaks to Plains Design was part of a design team to reconstruct
South Billings Boulevard, a gateway arterial road leading
into Billings. Utilizing bond financing passed by voters,
the road was reconstructed to urban standards and enhanced
with a bicycle trail and landscape amenities. Design considerations
included the school zone for Newman Elementary School, which
needed a bus drop-off area, a small easting area and a pedestrian
refuge island for the road. Peaks to Plains Design worked
with the engineers to create these spaces without affecting
traffic flow and maintaining sight distances for vehicles
along this busy corridor.
The remainder of the corridor was enhanced with a regular
spacing of street trees and bike trail, creating a warm welcome
to residents and visitors to the City’s core.
Peaks to Plains Design is part of a design team currently
working on the reconstruction of Highway 3, known locally
as Airport Road, in Billings. The project includes a complete
redesign of two major intersections and three miles of highway.
At the intersection of Airport Road and North 27th Street,
a modern roundabout is proposed for the interchange. This
interchange currently handles over 11,000 vehicles per day
and is projected to handle over 19,000 vehicles by the year
2025. The traffic includes everyone from semi trucks, local
commuters and airport passengers. As a major gateway into
the City, the intersection will need landscape enhancements
as well as functionality.
Over three miles of roadway will be reconstructed towards
Main Street (Highway 87). Design challenges include reclamation
techniques, vehicle access on/off the road, airport security
and aesthetics. The other major intersection is at Airport
Road and Alkali Creek Road in the Heights. This interchange
will be reconfigured with a new overpass bridge, clover-leaf
turn lanes and new intersections. Design challenges include
context-sensitive design, pedestrian circulation, hillside
reclamation and long-term maintenance. The project is set
for construction in 2008.
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