raised medians throughout the corridor create a safer environment for all motorists.

in the heart of unincorporated polk county, a bustling two-lane corridor known as us highway 69 (ne 14th street) has long been a critical lifeline connecting des moines with the thriving suburb of ankeny. this vital artery bears a load of up to 11,000 vehicles daily, but as the years roll on, it is anticipated to accommodate a staggering 24,000 cars each day by the year 2050. to meet this growing traffic demand, the snyder & associates team was tasked by the iowa department of transportation (dot) with developing a plan for the reconstruction of a three-mile stretch of us 69, transforming it from a two-lane rural roadway into a modern, four-lane divided urban thoroughfare.

the land that flanks this corridor is a diverse tapestry of commercial enterprises, industrial hubs, and residential neighborhoods. the plan includes six strategically placed signalized intersections, enhancing convenience and safety for commuters navigating this bustling stretch of road. this monumental undertaking, which commenced in 2021, has already achieved remarkable milestones as it wraps up in 2023.

revolutionized roadway reconstruction: static lidar scanning ensured precision and safety

innovation has often paved the way for progress, and the us 69 reconstruction project was no exception. at its core, the project’s success story began with our team’s implementation of cutting-edge surveying techniques that guaranteed precision and prioritized the safety of those who worked on-site.

the highly detailed lidar image ensured the new roadway aligned with the existing pavement.

the project team fully utilized static lidar scanning. by harnessing the power of lasers and advanced sensors, lidar creates a highly detailed, 3d representation of the environment, in this case, the existing roadway pavement of us highway 69. static lidar scanning captured a comprehensive, high-resolution dataset of the roadway, leaving no room for guesswork. this precise information served as the cornerstone for the entire reconstruction project. it also ensured that the new four-lane divided urban roadway aligned flawlessly with the existing pavement, guaranteeing a seamless transition and a road that meets the iowa dot’s quality standards.

safety is paramount in any construction endeavor, and static lidar scanning has transformed safety protocols. traditional surveying methods often necessitate surveyors to physically enter the work zone, exposing them to the risks inherent in high-traffic construction areas. however, static lidar scanning has eliminated this need. surveyors can remain safe from the active construction site while the technology does the heavy lifting. this revolutionary approach not only safeguards the well-being of the surveying team but also contributes to the project’s overall efficiency, as there is less downtime due to safety concerns.

access control evolution: transforming us highway 69 for enhanced traffic flow and safety

few endeavors in the ambitious landscape of roadway reconstruction are as multifaceted and pivotal as enhancing access control along a bustling corridor like us highway 69. at the heart of this reconstruction project was a fundamental objective—to redefine access management. this undertaking encompassed the careful reconfiguration and consolidation of numerous commercial and residential access points, representing a vital step towards achieving the project’s overarching goals of improved traffic flow, enhanced safety, and capacity expansion to accommodate the corridor’s ever-growing demands.

access management, often called the art of controlling entry, exit, and cross traffic along a roadway, is a crucial facet of modern transportation engineering. in the case of the us 69 reconstruction project, the existing corridor consisted of a web of access points that had evolved, contributing to congestion, delays, and safety concerns. businesses and residences along the corridor required convenient access, but the existing layout challenged efficiency and safety.

our project team embarked on a meticulous access point relocation and consolidation process to address these challenges head-on. this multifaceted endeavor involved a comprehensive assessment of the corridor’s existing access points, considering proximity to intersections, traffic volume, and safety implications. commercial entrances, driveways, and residential access points were strategically repositioned to optimize traffic flow and minimize conflict points.

this project exemplifies the delicate balance between accessibility and efficiency that characterizes modern roadway engineering. while the project aimed to optimize traffic flow and enhance safety, it also recognized the importance of maintaining access for businesses and residents. through careful 2022世界杯32强预选赛 and collaboration with stakeholders, the project achieved a harmonious blend of accessibility and efficiency, ensuring that the corridor remains a vital conduit for the community.

leveraging cutting-edge technology

additionally, this project harnessed the full potential of bentley open roads software to create this transformative corridor. this powerful software served as the digital backbone of the project, transcending the boundaries of traditional design and ushering in a new era of precision and efficiency. the software allowed our design team to develop a dynamic blueprint that guided automated machine guidance during grading and paving. moreover, it served as an analytical laboratory, offering a platform for in-depth design analysis, where every component, contour, and dimension could be scrutinized to perfection.

seamless staging: navigating progress smoothly through us 69 reconstruction

finally, a meticulously crafted staging plan was devised to maintain traffic flow throughout construction. this intricate plan ensured commuters could navigate the corridor safely and efficiently during construction, minimizing disruptions to their daily routines.

the us 69 reconstruction project has been more than just a roadway overhaul — it has been a testament to innovation, collaboration, and foresight. as the corridor has evolved into a four-lane urban roadway, it is now poised to meet the ever-growing transportation needs of the ankeny area, laying the foundation for a brighter, more accessible future.

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in response to these pressing challenges, the iowa dot joined forces with snyder & associates, a trusted traffic and roadway improvements partner, to evaluate and propose practical solutions. the objective was to enhance the transportation network along the u.s. highway 6 corridor, which stretches westward from the interstate 35/80 service interchange.

interchange justification report leads to diverging diamond interchange recommendation

the snyder & associates team created an interchange justification report (ijr) that was crucial in this process by providing a comprehensive framework for meeting the fhwa’s criteria. given the challenges presented by the developed land and environmentally sensitive areas surrounding the interchange, multiple alternatives were explored. these alternatives ranged from expanding the existing diamond interchange to converting it into a tight diamond, single-point urban, or a diverging diamond interchange (ddi).

the diverging diamond interchange at hickman road and interstate 35/80 will drastically reduce the traffic conflict points.

after careful analysis, the diverging diamond interchange emerged as the preferred option. snyder & associates traffic engineers determined it best aligned with the project’s criteria. the ddi interchange is a type of interchange that can improve safety and traffic flow by eliminating the need for left turns across opposing traffic. in a ddi interchange, traffic briefly crosses over to the opposite side of the road before merging back onto the original side.

“the new ddi interchange will be a major improvement for safety and traffic flow at this busy interchange,” said snyder & associates project manager nathan carhoff. “the ddi design eliminates the need for left turns across opposing traffic, which is a major cause of crashes at interchanges.”

expanding trail accommodations: enhancing accessibility

this project area contains one of the busiest segments of interstate highway in the state of iowa. i-35/80 between douglas and university carries over 125,000 vehicles per day, with projections for traffic to grow to over 185,000 vehicles per day by 2050, creating a dangerous barrier between the communities of clive and urbandale. regionally, hickman road also carries more east-west traffic from one side of the interstate to the other than any other roadway in the metro. currently, hickman road carries approximately 40,000 vehicles per day along this corridor, with projections for traffic to grow to over 60,000 vehicles per day by 2050.

providing a safe barrier between pedestrians and bicyclists is critical for encouraging non-motorized transportation options and allowing for safe recreational opportunities for residents of all abilities. to that end, the construction of several new trail sections is included in the project. the first trail section is a 2,200-foot-long, ten-foot-wide, pcc pedestrian trail connection that will begin on the east side of the lifetime fitness entrance off hickman road. the trail will turn a loop approximately 500 feet to the east to accommodate elevation change. it will move south via a grade-separated underpass tunnel to safely carry pedestrians and bicyclists under the busy hickman road corridor. turning back to the east and south, the trail will run parallel to the southbound i-35/80 entrance ramp and connect with the clive greenbelt trail near walnut creek.

two pedestrian bridges over the interstate onramps will add a multi-modal component to the new interchange.

the next trail section will begin on the north side of hickman road at the grade-separated tunnel entrance. it will continue to the east, crossing the southbound interstate exit ramp via a pedestrian bridge. the trail’s path will pass beneath the interstate using a grade-separated underpass tunnel and continue over the northbound entrance ramp via another pedestrian bridge. ultimately, the trail will extend east, connecting with a local trail and sidewalk network near nw 111th street.

when complete, this new grade-separated connection will bridge a much-needed gap in the area trail network, providing users with undisturbed access to the raccoon river valley trail and the clive greenbelt trail that collectively tie thousands of residential homes and hundreds of area businesses together, along with dozens of parks and recreational areas — all with minimal to no interaction between trail users and the heavy hickman road and interstate 35/80 traffic.

these trail accommodations align with the project’s broader goals of enhancing accessibility and promoting alternative modes of transportation within the community. they are planned for construction concurrently with the interchange upgrades, demonstrating a holistic approach to transportation infrastructure development.

enhanced stormwater management 2022世界杯32强预选赛

the quality of life for users and aquatic life will also be improved by incorporating numerous stormwater management elements to help control and clean up the added runoff associated with the additional pavement areas. most improvements drain to walnut creek located just south of hickman road. this urban stream takes on stormwater runoff from thousands of developed lots within the western suburbs of des moines, so any additional pavements contribute to higher runoff volumes and quicker discharges to the stream. with faster overland flow, many sediments and water contaminants are also carried within those waters, further damaging the streams and affecting the natural habitat for residents, fish, and plant life.

to address these additional runoff concerns, stormwater within the project area will be treated via grass swales with a rock infiltration sub-base installed in the drainageways. these improvements will promote stormwater infiltration into the ground, and gabions installed at strategic locations will slow the water further, encouraging groundwater infiltration and reducing erosion. other areas of the project will be treated using bioretention cells. these cells will be located within the median islands of the interchange.

all stormwater management features are designed based on city requirements for recharge and water quality volume. this infrastructure will eliminate damage to property and the environment by reducing, slowing, and controlling the flow of stormwater runoff. properly managed streams and natural waterways enhance the community’s natural beauty, increasing community pride, and helping make it a place where people want to live, work, and recreate.

moving traffic safety forward: a safer and more efficient corridor

rendering of the new interchange looking to the northwest.

as the project to revamp the i-35/80 & u.s. 6 interchange progresses into the construction phase, it promises safer and more efficient transportation for the communities of the des moines metro area. with careful 2022世界杯32强预选赛 , adherence to fhwa standards, and a commitment to addressing the region’s evolving needs, this transformative initiative is well on its way to becoming a reality. stay tuned for further updates as we witness the continued evolution of this vital transportation corridor.

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however, as the pierre community grew, additional stormwater was routed through the lake due to its location near the bottom of a tributary discharging into the missouri river. thousands of canadian geese and other waterfowl also inhabited the year-round open water. these issues have created poor water quality and reduced the lake’s original average depth of 16 to 20 feet to less than 6 feet.

the south dakota department of agriculture & natural resources, acting through the office of the state engineer, selected the snyder & associates and morris, inc. design-build team to dredge the lake and restore it to its original depth.

controlling sediment flow & protecting wildlife during dredging operations

before dredging began, preliminary testing indicated that lake sediment included high levels of phosphorous, ammonia, and total suspended solids (tss). due to their soluble nature and potential to harm wildlife, containment measures were needed to prevent sediment entry into capitol creek — the lake’s natural path for overflows. this was achieved by drawing down the lake elevation using silt curtains, screens, and siphons.

by lowering the water level, our team ensured the disturbed sediment would remain in the basin and not flow over the weir during dredging operations. this process allowed the amphibious and barge excavators to maneuver and dredge safely without uncontrolled discharge.

dredging is also a disruptive process for wildlife. while migratory birds tend to avoid the site during construction, aquatic creatures do not have that luxury. the south dakota game, fish, and parks team performed a humane fish removal operation called electroshocking before active dredging operations began. electroshocking fish is a common and effective method used in fishery management. this process directs a small electrical current through the water, stunning the fish so they can be quickly scooped up and removed. electroshocking is a humane method to remove fish from a waterway and has little to no impact on the long-term health of the fish population. once captured, the fish were relocated to several local waterways.

dredging process options & recycling dredged material

dredging is generally performed using a mechanical method, such as an excavator with a bucket to dig up sediment, or a hydraulic method using a cutting head and suction pump to remove materials. through numerous discussions, it was determined that hydraulic dredging should be ruled out due to the planned winter operations and sediment size and types, which prevent effective settling. a mechanical method using excavators, barges, and dump trucks was selected.

initially, an amphibious excavator was selected for sediment removal. this machine can perform dredging operations while supported on soft terrains such as swamps, wetlands, and shallow water. however, it quickly became apparent that as the excavator moved deeper into the lake, it was no longer performing satisfactorily and needed to be replaced. a barge was located rapidly, and a long-reach excavator was positioned on the floating structure to continue the process.

once removed, the lakebed material was loaded into a hopper barge and transferred to dump trucks stationed in a specially designed loading area that had been set up with erosion controls. the sediment was taken to a locally permitted landfill, where it was contained for dewatering.

several erosion control measures were implemented for the dump truck loading area.

since the sediment contains high concentrations of phosphorous and organics, it is incredibly nutrient-rich and will be recycled as topsoil for future projects around the state.

avoiding abandoned infrastructure

during dredging operations, a previously unknown utility map from 1942 indicated adjacent gas and sewer lines possibly located below the lake bed. the project team superimposed the old map onto modern survey data maps, performed field investigation work, and determined minimal damage risk.

however, all parties agreed that the sewer should be properly abandoned. to do this, the pipe was sealed by placing two inflatable plugs in the line and filling the utility access and pipe with a high-slump, small-aggregate concrete. this process makes the aged pipe a solid structure, removing the possibility of leakage or infiltration.

aggressive project schedule avoids busy season

with capitol lake serving as a community attraction, project leaders wanted the work done before the high-access seasons of spring, summer, and fall. since this aggressive schedule was necessary, a well-defined process was vital for success.

along with precise 2022世界杯32强预选赛 , our project team and the morris team expedited the project by performing multiple aspects at concurring times. as we conducted the survey and determined project specs, the crew at morris would locate and mobilize the equipment and machinery needed to fulfill the plans. this saved significant time as some barges and excavators were out of state, requiring additional transport time. with equipment ready to start as soon as plans were finalized, we completed the dredging project in less than six months.

collaboration leads to success

the key to this project’s success can be attributed to the high quality and depth of experience of the design-build team members and how well they complemented each other’s work. these factors, coupled with a proactive and supportive presence from the state, allowed our experts to complete the dredging of capitol lake as efficiently as possible. more than 32,000 cubic yards of sediment were removed from the lake.

after the project was completed and warmer weather arrived, wildlife quickly returned to the lake, with several new species of waterfowl inhabiting the area. more importantly, the lake is ready to once again provide the community with enjoyment and relaxation in a healthy and safe environment.

the capitol lake dredging project earned its prestigious status as the category ii agc build south dakota award winner through meticulous 2022世界杯32强预选赛 , innovative execution, and a significant positive impact on the local community. the project stood out among its peers by demonstrating excellence in construction practices, adherence to safety standards, and efficient resource management. this recognition underscores the project’s commitment to excellence and significant contribution to advancing construction practices in south dakota.

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fast forward more than three decades and this ambitious plan continues with the proposed construction of a new interchange at the u.s. highway 30 & 580^th avenue intersection east of ames. this proposed interchange will address operational and safety deficiencies at the existing intersections in the area and accommodate future traffic from anticipated growth in the surrounding area, which is anticipated to transition from current agricultural land uses to light industrial land uses.

the snyder & associates team was engaged to study the existing intersections and compile an interchange operations report (ior) that documents the existing conditions and operations, as well as future operations of the proposed interchange improvements. by removing the at-grade intersections and developing an access-controlled interchange, the dot is seeking to eliminate high-speed broadside and left-turn crashes as traffic volumes increase in the future.

current intersection configuration lacks desired safety measures

u.s. highway 30 (in red) is a main east-west route across iowa.

as currently configured at 580^th avenue, u.s. highway 30 consists of a four-lane, divided highway with a rural cross-section and an approximately 50-foot-wide depressed grass median. as part of the national highway system, the traveled portion of u.s. 30 provides 12-foot through lanes with paved shoulders and left-turn lanes at the existing intersection with a posted speed limit of 65 mph. two-way stop control is provided for the northbound and southbound approaches along 580^th avenue and left-turn lanes are provided in the u.s. 30 median.

while u.s. 30 currently meets iowa dot standards concerning lane width, paved shoulders, and roadway geometry, the at-grade intersection forces traffic along 580^th avenue to perform a potentially dangerous left-hand turn to enter the highway. while the divided highway median allows for two-stage crossing/turning maneuvers, the median crossover area becomes more congested as side street traffic increases, resulting in the increased potential for crashes. as u.s. 30 and side street traffic is only expected to increase over time, operations would concurrently degrade at this location.

these safety concerns are also clearly evident in the crash data compiled by our team for the ior. the u.s. 30 and 580^th avenue intersection was ranked number 21 statewide in crash frequency and severity and in the top-10 of expressway intersections in the safety improvement candidate listing (sicl).

proposed interchange geometry for upgraded intersection

the iowa dot proposes the construction of a diamond/partial-cloverleaf interchange at the 580^th avenue intersection. this alternative was selected following the 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 meetings as part of the national environmental policy act (nepa) assessment/世界杯足球比赛预选赛 information process, as well as task force meetings with local stakeholders.

the proposed interchange will provide diagonal entrance and exit ramps in the southwest, southeast, and northeast quadrants. however, due to existing commercial land uses in the northwest quadrant, a loop ramp is proposed in the northeast quadrant to accommodate westbound u.s. 30 entrance traffic.

additionally, a 580^th avenue bridge would go over u.s. highway 30 with the proposed plan. 580th avenue would be a three-lane corridor providing one northbound and one southbound lane, with a center left-turn lane at ramp terminal intersections. this center lane would also serve as either a left turn lane or a two-way, left-turn lane (twltl) at future adjacent intersections north and south of the interchange.

report determines proposed interchange meets traffic operations need

as determined by our team’s extensive ior study, the proposed interchange will satisfy the purpose and need identified in the prior environmental assessment. it will improve traffic operations for mainline and crossroad traffic by reducing delays and improving level of service (los) to meet the system mobility goals of peak hour traffic. this proposed interchange will also improve safety by eliminating intersection conflict points and providing full access control.

currently scheduled for construction in 2023, the proposed interchange will have a positive impact on local users of the roadway, as well as those traveling thr//m.dicovercards.com/services/traffic/ough the state. the snyder & associates team takes tremendous pride in the services we perform, for not only the iowa dot, but all states, municipalities, and agencies that we are fortunate enough to lend our expertise.

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stretching across henry, jefferson, lee, and van buren counties in southeast iowa, the lower skunk river watershed is comprised of nearly 135,000 acres. with almost 50 percent of the land in the watershed planted as row crops, the excess nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into local waterways was having a sizable impact on the hypoxic zone where the mississippi river empties into the northern gulf of mexico. this oxygen-deprived “dead zone” represents the second largest hypoxic zone in the world. in 2008, the gulf hypoxia action plan was created by the environmental protection agency (epa) which called for iowa and other states along the mississippi river to reduce their nutrient loading into the gulf of mexico.

this action plan ultimately led to more localized studies and strategies aimed at cleaning up smaller watersheds that were contributing to the greater issue. in an effort to reduce nutrient runoff and improve soil conditions in the lower skunk river watershed, snyder & associates was contracted to help investigate conservation practices that would ultimately achieve the targeted goals outlined in the statewide iowa nutrient reduction strategy. a key component of the strategy included factoring in the guidance and input of farmers, landowners, residents, along with local, state, and federal government agencies.

recommended watershed conservation practices

to provide a reliable framework for water and soil improvements across the watershed while also maintaining agricultural performance, the lower skunk river watershed management plan was formed. this initiative was launched to engage all stakeholders in improving water quality and soil health through a collaborative, research-based approach.

the snyder & associates team immediately outlined two primary objectives for the watershed management plan. the first was to review current agricultural conservation methods within the lower skunk river watershed. by recapping the practices already in place, participating members can clearly see which methods are underperforming or lacking and better understand the benefits of the recommended systems. the second objective was to investigate additional conservation practices that would reduce total nitrogen and phosphorous runoff from agricultural fields.

agricultural best management practices focus on erosion control

the implementation of best management practices (bmps) plays a critical role in improving water quality caused by traditional row crop agriculture. along with reducing nutrient and sediment loads, bmps can modify the tile drainage outlets and reduce direct surface water runoff. thorough field investigations performed by our team documented current practices within the assessed corridors. the following practices were found to be used on a stand-alone basis or in combination throughout the watershed:

• no-till — this technique aims to decrease the amount of soil erosion by avoiding disturbing the soil through tillage.
• cover crops — the practice of planting quick-growing plants such as grasses or legumes to keep soil in place after harvest season.
• crop rotation — implementing a planting schedule of different crops sequentially on a single plot of land to improve soil health, add nutrients in the soil, and reduce pest and weed issues.
• saturated buffer tile outlets — tile outlets leading to riparian buffer zones along a waterway rather than outletting directly into the waterway at a single location.
• bioreactors — tile outlets leading to a buried trench filled with wood chips and water which is then treated within the trench prior to outletting to a waterway.

these practical and effective agricultural conservation practices were selected by management plan participants from the local community as primary focus areas. these methods correlate well with conservation practices that will achieve the iowa nutrient reduction strategy objectives of a 41 percent reduction in nitrogen and a 29 percent reduction in phosphorus from non-point sources within the next 20 years.

nitrogen & phosphorus nutrient reduction key to plan success

an in-depth riparian assessment performed by our team identified practices that farmers can cost-share or receive compensation to implement that significantly lower the amount of nutrient loading in the watershed. designed to improve water quality while sustaining agricultural production, the following nutrient recommendations were presented in three main categories — nitrogen and phosphorous management, land use, and edge-of-field practices:

• management practices — highlighting practices such as fertilizer runoff and application rates, timing, and overall method to reduce initial loss.
• land use practices — focusing on long-term changes, including perennial crop and land retirement options to avoid damaging the soil.
• edge-of-field practices — implementing water drainage management through wetlands, bioreactors, vegetated buffers, saturated buffers, terraces, and sediment control practices.

perennial energy cover crop is within the top three practices for successful nitrogen reduction and was the most favored alternative by a majority of local agency plan participants. wetlands, bioreactors, and nutrient management were also among the preferred practices throughout the plan’s feedback sessions.

continual improvements toward clean agricultural water

today, farmer support for the lower skunk river watershed management plan has increased nearly two-fold since its inception. there’ve been over 14,000 acres of cover crops implemented, nearly 170,000 feet of terraces built, three alternative tile outlets added, one saturated buffer, one bioreactor, one wetland creation, and three grade-stabilization structures installed. additionally, one saturated buffer and two-grade stabilization structures are currently in the 2022世界杯32强预选赛 stages.

by its very nature, a watershed is influenced by the community whose people share common resources. decisions regarding the use and implementation of these watershed management practices were heavily influenced by local farmers, landowners, and agency representatives from all counties across the watershed. these decisions guided the development of the watershed plan from start to finish and allowed for significant buy-in from participants. using a collaborative, research-based approach, this plan aims to continue work with farmers, as well as rural and urban residents to adopt conservation practices that fit their unique needs, lands, and budgets.

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stretching over 1,400 miles from louisiana to minnesota, u.s. highway 61 (u.s. 61) is a major north/south route bisecting the middle of the country. a nearly four-mile-long section of the highway runs directly through the community of burlington, iowa in the southeast corner of the state. as a primary contributor to the community’s success, the iowa department of transportation (dot) tasked the traffic professionals with snyder & associates to conduct a traffic study along this busy corridor.

the study corridor spanned from burlington’s southern to its northern corporate limits. the study was initiated to evaluate this busy corridor’s safety and operations as they currently exist and looking forward twenty years. this comprehensive study included the evaluation of the corridor’s traffic and crash history, intersection signal timings, traffic operations, multimodal accommodations, access control needs, and potential frontage road conflicts. additionally, the study identified both short- and long-term improvements that could be implemented to improve safety and operations, as well as maximize the travel flow efficiency and useful life of the corridor. this effort is further propelled by the iowa dot’s significant investment in other portions of the corridor throughout southeast iowa.

existing corridor conditions drive study parameters

throughout the majority of the study area, u.s. 61 is currently configured as a four-lane divided roadway. it’s approximately 64-feet wide in total with 12-foot wide lanes and a 16-foot wide median. frontage roads to the east and west of u.s. 61 throughout most of the corridor are positioned at varying distances from the main roadway. there are 13 intersections with 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 roadways along the corridor, ten of which are signalized. the remaining intersections are two-way stop-controlled (twsc) for the minor side street approaches.

in order to increase traffic flow and keep pedestrians safe, studies provided options on how to effectively and efficiently do so.

in general, there is strong access control along this stretch of u.s. 61 with few full-access driveways and significant distance between most intersections. left turn lanes are provided for all of the study intersections on u.s. 61, with right turn lanes at several intersections. the mature land use and frontage road type design does lack consistent pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure in the study area. the only extended stretch of sidewalk along the corridor is an approximately one-half mile section located on the west side of u.s. 61 between sunnyside avenue and mt. pleasant street.

traffic operation models

to evaluate existing operations, future traffic demand under existing conditions and future demand with improvements, highway capacity manual analysis techniques were modeled throughout the corridor. in general, traffic operations were found to be at an acceptable level of service (los) along the entire corridor for both the existing volumes and the forecasted volumes. for the existing volumes, all intersections currently operate at los c, or better overall with some approaches at los d. for the forecasted volumes, all intersections operate at los d, or better with some approaches at los e.

there were a number of locations where the current and forecasted data showed queue lengths exceeding the recommended storage length. overall, however, the corridor is expected to operate acceptably at all signalized intersections through the study design year of 2040 with los c or better by implementing our team’s recommended improvements.

corridor & ramp improvements designed for safety & efficiency

although the corridor currently provides a satisfactory los, a few key areas were recommended for improvements to reduce crashes and improve operations of vehicle traffic flow, as well as the mobility options for pedestrians. general upgrades to the traffic signal system currently ready for construction will benefit traffic signal operations, time-of-day left-turn phasing, monitoring, and progressive flow. these improvements will also contribute to a reduction of left-turn/broadside collisions and rear-end collisions. the lengthening of specific turn lanes along the corridor, as well as other additions at identified intersections, were also included in our team’s recommendations.

updates to the traffic signal system will increase traffic flow, safety, and reduce collisions.

potential interchange ramp improvements include removing the southbound loop ramp to eastbound u.s. highway 34 (u.s. 34) and the relocation of the eastbound u.s. 34 exit ramp. these upgrades will provide improved intersection spacing at one of the busiest locations adjacent to the agency street intersection. the geometric improvements will also improve safety and operations in the corridor well into the future.

additionally, a key pedestrian mobility consideration would be the inclusion of a crossing of u.s. 34 with a separate pedestrian bridge structure or the widening of the existing bridge. further development of the sidewalk network throughout the entire corridor would add multimodal accommodations that don’t currently exist.

as previously mentioned, access management is well controlled along the corridor. however, some opportunities may present themselves to the city of burlington as vacant parcels are redeveloped in the future. this occurrence could facilitate some changes in frontage road alignment or a shift to backage roads for improved intersection operations.

targeted focus area for corridor study success

as the city of burlington continues to focus on corridor improvements, the benefits for drivers will continue to grow in the form of reduced travel times, less pollution, and safer commutes. the snyder & associates team will likewise continue to assist the city and the iowa dot in their efforts to create a better quality of life for residents, support new development, and improve safety, efficiency, and traffic flow well into the future.

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the nearly complete internal steel structure provides a glimpse of the open spaces inside.

located in fairfield, the iowa department of transportation (dot) district 5 office houses the equipment and workforce needed for maintaining the roadway network in 20 counties spanning the southeast corner of the state. in 2017, the structural engineers with 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 , a subsidiary of snyder & associates, were enlisted to develop a plan for remodeling and expanding the existing construction offices and materials lab to accommodate the agency’s growing needs.

the plan devised by the 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 team combined concrete, cold-formed steel, masonry, and timber structural elements to provide a one-of-a-kind office building and materials lab for the district 5 staff. divided into two phases, the first portion of the plan aimed to remodel the existing 4,000 square foot, wood-framed materials lab and expand it with an additional 2,200 square feet of space. the addition utilized the lab building’s existing structure by matching the wood framing. the design also developed a strategy for framing the lab addition to avoid overloading the existing structure and foundations.

this construction method allowed the team to leave the existing structure in place and more cost-effectively build the new addition and merge the exterior siding and rooflines to appear as one united building. the materials lab phase of the project had an accelerated schedule to allow dot staff to occupy the building before the upcoming construction season began.

construction offices gain new, modern structure with open spaces

high ceilings and exposed steel framing create a warm, comfortable environment in the office building’s second floor.

situated adjacent to the newly expanded lab building, phase two of the project focused on the construction of a new, 15,000 square foot, two-story office building. designed to house the construction staff for district 5, the building is supported by structural steel framing, composite floors, and lightweight steel joists. this unique use of framing and flooring allowed for large open spans and high ceilings to create an open atmosphere for the new office building.

the second floor and roof deck was developed using an architectural and acoustical metal deck material and can serve multiple purposes for staff. because of its prominent, exposed location in the building, it also adds to the overall aesthetic of the structure. the masonry walls near the elevator and staircases were used as lateral supports for the building’s structure to save on steel connections and provide additional openings for windows.

this newly expanded dot facility is designed to accommodate steady growth within the district 5 territory for many years. the visually-appealing, staff-friendly quarters presents employees with ample collaboration space and provides adequate equipment storage for the district moving forward.

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the gold top to the iowa state capitol is an iconic skyline highlight.

defining the des moines skyline since 1886, the iowa state capitol building is one of the nation’s most iconic statehouses. the renaissance-style, rectangular structure has a commanding, gold dome in the center, fortified with four smaller domes at each corner of the building. reaching a height of 275 feet above the ground floor, the central dome is constructed of iron and brick and is covered in 23-carat, gold-leaf gilding. the tissue-paper thin sheets are covered with a protective layer to seal them from the elements.

in 2005, the exterior of the dome was regilded. it wasn’t noticed at the time, but the interior structure was sustaining moisture damage — both from exterior leaks and from the humidity given off by large crowds inside the building. these leaks had led to rusting wrought iron, along with brick and mortar deterioration. when discovered several years later, 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 , a subsidiary of snyder & associates, was engaged to perform the structural assessment and design to determine the best course of action for repairing and restoring the dome.

numerous challenges lead to creative structural retrofitting solutions

because of the complex construction and location of the dome, the 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 team faced multiple challenges to define the best restoration solution. foremost was the lack of access in reaching the 275 foot dome. special scaffolding had to be assembled onsite to reach the interior and exterior without damaging the building from excessive loads. additionally, full usage of the building had to be maintained throughout the structural assessment and reconstruction process. this required careful consideration for project staging, as well as the safety of capitol workers and visitors.

updated metal brackets provide added support to the structure.

our team’s assessment determined that the restoration and strengthening of the iron and masonry dome could be completed without noticeable modifications. the wrought iron was reinforced with plates and the existing rivets were replaced with high-strength bolts. the deteriorated masonry posed a more difficult challenge, however. it had to be replaced brick-by-brick in order to keep the building in operation and more import, avoid damage to the gold leaf covering the exterior of the dome.

near the top of the dome, an attic separator consisting of a cellular metal deck, steel beams, and tie rods separates the upper dome from the building. to control the moisture levels and temperature, a rubber membrane was added to the attic separator to help mitigate the possibility of future moisture damage. this separator and membrane create a thermal barrier between the dome and the building. to access this space for future maintenance, a monitoring platform constructed from lightweight aluminum and fiberglass grating was added to the structural design.

professionals from 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 oversaw all structural retrofits, as well as provided construction administration for this extensive project. funding for the dome repairs were provided from money left over from prior state bond issues.

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in their ongoing efforts to meet the compliance requirements of the americans with disabilities act (ada) of 1990, the iowa dot continued to upgrade sidewalks and sidewalk ramps throughout iowa in 2017. the plan focused on nine individual communities with state highways in their jurisdiction. these towns included martinsburg, hedrick, minburn, moulton, early, pisgah, onslow, goose lake, and maysville. the dot chose to partner with snyder & associates to handle the design and engineering aspects of these projects, as well as providing right-of-way services to handle the easement negotiations. altogether, this far-reaching project required 241 easements, with fewer than 90 days to complete all acquisitions.

spread throughout iowa, our right-of-way team immediately recognized that the geography of the communities included in the project could create a coordination challenge. additionally, the timeframe for completion requested by the dot was shorter than typical and would require an exemplary focus on efficiency and time management.

unique challenges faced — & overcome — by right-of-way team

while the 2022世界杯32强赛程表时间 finished up project designs, the right-of-way team immediately began the process of assembling the necessary ownership records and iowa dot ada sidewalk easement forms. working diligently, our team quickly

our experts worked with homeowners and city officials to design sidewalk systems in complex areas.

created the required documents and had them ready to deliver to the appropriate owners upon project approval.

the right-of-way team worked with city officials from each of the nine towns to answer questions from property owners. they were also available at numerous 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 venues should owners elect to ask questions in person at their local town hall. 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 information meetings were arranged in the more populated towns to make it convenient for a majority of owners to stop in for a single meeting. this provided them the opportunity to have their questions answered and complete the required paperwork.

another challenge in a project of this scale is simply making contact with the property owners in certain cases. many people no longer have landline telephones and cell phone information is typically not readily available. the right-of-way team utilized various online resources in their search. occasionally, they turned to residents to contact some difficult to locate owners. on-site visits often required door-to-door canvassing — inquiring at local businesses during the day and knocking on residential doors into the evening.

seamless communication between disciplines keeps project on track

as the team worked through the negotiations, there was a small portion of absent property owners that couldn’t be contacted, and a few that refused to accept the offer. since snyder & associates was handling all aspects of this project, the right-of-way team could work quickly and efficiently with the engineers to create a modification that worked around the unsigned properties with minimal disruption.

out of the 247 properties impacted by the sidewalk improvement program, the right-of-way team obtained signatures from 217 owners.

acceptable solutions were devised by the engineering team for the remaining 30 parcels. most importantly, the work was completed in the allotted time to meet the project deadline. the right-of-way team’s efficient use of resources, diligence in working with local officials, and willingness to go the extra mile by canvassing neighborhoods all contributed to the success of this project.

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as part of an on-call design contract, the iowa department of transportation (dot) tasked snyder & associates with 2022世界杯32强预选赛 and designing roadway reconstruction and widening efforts along interstate 80, south of grinnell. this project includes the replacement of two mainline i-80 bridges over iowa highway 146 and two bridges over a single track of the union pacific railroad (uprr), just east of the iowa 146 interchange. plans for all four bridges were created by snyder & associates subsidiary, 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 .

the project will include extensive grading and paving work extending approximately one mile on both sides of the interchange, as well as the widening of the roadway approaches to facilitate the replacement of the bridge structures. additionally, future interstate expansion plans from four lanes to six lanes needed to be taken into consideration. to account for this upgrade, the shoulders were designed to full-depth and full-width specifications to serve as the future lanes when the expansion occurs. the reconstruction of mainline existing shoulders (inside and outside), guardrail updates, culvert extensions, and various other drainage improvements are also included in the project plan.

unique challenges lead to “virtual” solutions

presentation software was used to hold virtual field exam meetings.

several other considerations had to be taken into account at the outset of this project. foremost was the significant amount of traffic along the corridor which made performing a traditional field exam potentially dangerous. as many as 31,000 vehicles per day travel the project corridor and a significant portion of this traffic consist of large vehicles and semi-truck traffic.

to make this portion of the project as safe as possible, the innovative team members at snyder & associates conducted a preliminary “virtual field exam.” before the field exam meeting, snyder & associates personnel visited the project corridor, taking detailed notes and photos of each area of concern. this information was then loaded into presentation software. this made it easy to hold the field exam meeting with all of the necessary stakeholders without the need for a large group visiting the actual site.

unquestionably, the emergence of the covid-19 global pandemic in the late stages of the design process created the most unique challenge for our team. without missing a step, however, our designers seamlessly transitioned to virtual project management team (pmt) meetings using microsoft teams. this format allowed the design to progress in a “normal” way while keeping the client informed of design changes and critical decisions using the platform’s video and screen sharing features.

team adapts to meet accelerated timetable for multi-phased project

emergency repairs to the bridge deck accelerated the reconstruction timeline.

while this expansive reconstruction effort had been on the docket for several years, the rapidly deteriorating structures precipitated the necessity to accelerate the replacement timeline. the discovery of several structural deficiencies, as well as localized bridge deck failures on the interchange bridges, required emergency repairs and highlighted the importance of moving up the schedule. the snyder & associates team was more than able to accommodate the quicker timetable. the diligent work by our designers shortened the preliminary design schedule by eight months and ultimately facilitated initial reconstruction efforts a full two years ahead of the original plan.

as this multi-year project progresses, snyder & associates engineers will provide ongoing construction support services. when completed, the new bridges and wider roadway will leave the dot well-positioned to expand the interstate in the future as traffic conditions change. snyder & associates is proud that the iowa dot continues to seek out our professional engineering and design services for their most complex and challenging projects.

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