navigating design challenges & achieving milestones

the red line represents the new clear creek trail alignment around the interstate 80/380 interchange.

the clear creek trail project faced numerous design challenges, particularly as it runs through a vulnerable portion of the clear creek watershed, ultimately connecting to the iowa river in coralville. addressing environmental concerns, a wetland delineation report was prepared to avoid impacts on national wetlands. additionally, comprehensive hydrologic and hydraulic reviews were conducted to mitigate backwater effects caused by the trail’s infrastructure, ensuring no rise at existing interstate bridges.

coordination efforts with the iowa department of transportation (dot) and the iowa department of natural resources (dnr) were critical, facilitating the acquisition of right-of-way and floodplain permits essential to complete the project. a strategic design approach included the integration of ten pipe culverts within the trail corridor, preserving existing waterways’ functionality without compromising the proposed trail.

design integration with interchange reconfiguration

workers install one of the bridges over clear creek.

anticipating future needs, the trail’s alignment and profile were carefully planned to seamlessly integrate into the dot’s interchange project with an eye on additional trail connections when funds are available.

central to the project’s success are the two newly constructed continuous concrete slab pedestrian bridges over clear creek, measuring 120 feet and 130 feet, respectively. our subsidiary, 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 , developed detailed plans, including decorative railings and textured concrete, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of these trail bridges while ensuring structural integrity.

enhanced connectivity, elevated recreation

the completion of the clear creek trail project marks a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity and recreation within johnson county and connecting the communities on both sides of the newly redesigned interchange. as pedestrians and cyclists traverse its scenic route, the trail encourages active lifestyles and strengthens community bonds. with a commitment to sustainability and innovation, snyder & associates continues to spearhead projects that enrich the fabric of our communities, paving the way for a brighter, more connected 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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before reconstruction, the existing cedar heights drive corridor consisted of a two-lane rural section that was a main thoroughfare for commuters and a primary access route to the john deere facility on the south side of town. this comprehensive project included reconstructing the entire roadway to a three-lane urban section (with a two-way, left-turn lane), adding an extensive storm sewer system, building a trail, and extending the sanitary sewer and water main.

roundabouts smooth out traffic flow, increase safety

beginning at the greenhill road intersection, this project converted the existing signalized intersection to a multi-lane roundabout configuration. the existing t-intersection was converted to a single-lane roundabout at the huntington road intersection. additionally, a truck apron and landscape features were added to the viking road roundabout at the south end of the project zone. the use of roundabouts will drastically improve the traffic flow along the corridor and increase safety.

these improvements significantly impacted the cedar heights drive and greenhill road areas. the cedar heights drive reconstruction south from the intersection with viking road and north past the intersection with greenhill road, along with the construction of the roundabouts, was divided into two segments, beginning with the greenhill road roundabout. this staging effort allowed traffic access at the huntington road intersection while work was performed to the north.

in addition to the roadway reconstruction and widening, this project also saw the construction of a recreational trail running adjacent to the roadway, a new water main, sanitary sewer main, and storm sewer main were included from the east viking road roundabout north and east through the intersection of east greenhill road.

stormwater analysis drives new sewer system

traffic was temporarily rerouted to accommodate the reconstruction efforts.

an extensive stormwater analysis revealed the need for a new storm sewer system to meet sudas standards. one portion of the new roadway included a boulevard section, which limited the pavement area available for stormwater conveyance while maintaining an open lane for travel during runoff events. this area required additional intakes to meet the design requirements. various intake types and pipe materials were reviewed to optimize capture rates and reduce project costs. this required appropriate storm sewer intakes and pipe sizes to minimize the runoff spread on the arterial roadway. the stormwater improvements included dozens of new intakes and thousands of feet of storm sewer.

our team was also instrumental in this project, receiving numerous funding sources, including iowa department of transportation (dot) federal-aid swap funds, traffic safety improvement program (tsip) funds, and multiple local funding sources to implement these improvements.

the cedar heights drive reconstruction project has significantly improved the transportation network in cedar falls. with the expansion of the roadway to a three-lane urban section, the addition of storm sewers, recreational trails, and extensions of water and sewer mains, this project has enhanced the area’s infrastructure for both commuters and residents. roundabouts have greatly improved traffic flow and increased safety along the corridor. this project was successful due to the collaborative efforts of the cedar falls community, our team, and the multiple funding sources that supported the initiative.

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our environmental professionals check creek conditions near one of the bridge locations.

having doubled in population over the past three decades, the cedar rapid’s suburb of marion has been the dual beneficiary of a rapidly expanding metro area and the proliferation of trail networks around the state. multi-modal networks are a significant draw for attracting new residents and creating recreation and exercise opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. the recently completed 2.2-mile-long section of the indian creek trail checks all those boxes.

designed by the professionals with snyder & associates, this ten-foot-wide pcc trail was aligned to run adjacent to indian creek within the marion city limits. the trail connects boyson trail in donnelly park to the newly constructed section of tower terrace road on the north side of town, passing by linn-mar high school and indian creek elementary school. the trail was designed to utilize as many existing bridge and box culvert structures as possible along the alignment, with most of the necessary street crossings occurring below bridges.

updated at-grade crossing, prefabricated bridges utilized & box culvert tunnel

one area that required an at-grade crossing was near the linn-mar community schools building. the heavy traffic along 29^th avenue posed risks to pedestrians attempting to cross without assistance. our team recommended a high-intensity activated crosswalk (hawk) signal for this mid-block crossing. the signal will be activated, providing a safe crossing for trail users and pedestrians using the sidewalks.

with the flood events expected in the area, the pedestrian bridges were designed to withstand most scenarios.

the trail corridor also includes three new prefabricated bridges. our team designed the bridge abutments and coordinated with the supplier to ensure a product that will withstand high floodwaters that are consistent with the characteristics found in this floodplain. hydraulics were analyzed to set the bridges at an appropriate elevation to provide clearance for small storm events, reducing maintenance costs associated with debris collection on and around the structures.

the indian creek trail design team also worked closely with another group on a joint bridge and roadway project crossing the trail alignment. this project included the construction of a large box culvert designed and sized to accommodate the trail passage. the extensive coordination between both teams successfully created a project that interlocked designs while creating clear boundaries for construction.

accommodating trail alignment creates win-win scenario

initial trail alignments were met with skepticism from several property owners in the area. they were mainly concerned with an alignment that too closely encroached on their property and showed some resistance to working with the city to accommodate the trail route. however, our team worked with the town and linn-mar community schools to create an alternative trail alignment that benefited both parties while avoiding certain conflict areas.

a contingent of residents and local dignitaries gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new indian creek trail.

with the trail substantially completed in the fall of 2022, recreational and exercise enthusiasts now have another alternative to navigating the marion community, mostly separated from vehicle traffic. better yet, countless students in the linn-mar school district have a safer option to travel to school by bicycle or walking.

in march 2024, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at lininger park to celebrate the completion of the trail. this critical trail connection has linked essential amenities for marion residents and will likely spur future connections as trail popularity grows.

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crews work on the rehabilitation efforts on the former railroad bridge over the iowa river.

while it’s been many years in the making and still has many miles remaining to construct, the river’s edge trail is ideally positioned to take advantage of the scenic beauty, diverse wildlife habitat, and sprawling wetlands in the heart of iowa. currently, two segments are open at either end of the trail. when completed, however, the approximately 37-mile-long trail will connect steamboat rock to marshalltown, passing through many communities in between. the snyder & associates team has been intimately involved in the extensive trail 2022世界杯32强预选赛 and bridge evaluation projects, working closely with hardin county officials on the northern leg of the trail.

following a former railroad corridor, the river’s edge trail (formerly iowa river trail) will ultimately connect seven cities and two counties to the iowa river greenbelt and the central iowa trail network. additionally, connections will be made to a handful of local trail networks, including the iowa river state water trail, gunderson trail in eldora, bates trail in union, and the pine lake state park trail east of eldora.

steamboat rock bridge over iowa river

our team initially began on this project in steamboat rock, working to design a 0.6-mile section of trail that starts at south 1^st street and heads west through a tree-lined corridor. the structural engineers from snyder & associates subsidiary, 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 , developed plans to rehabilitate a nearly 100-year-old railroad bridge over the iowa river. this 60’-long deck girder bridge was reinforced and retrofitted with a paved surface and decorative rails to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians.

our team performed an air and slump test on the concrete as part of the construction observation process.

from the iowa river crossing, our team designed the trail alignment south to the community of eldora, crossing several rural roadways. at the 215^th street (t avenue) location, we incorporated a box culvert as a trail tunnel under the roadway, creating a safe passage for trail users. to date (2022), the entire trail from steamboat rock to eldora is paved. 2022世界杯32强预选赛 work and funding securement efforts will continue until the two trail sections meet around the marshall and hardin county lines.

世界杯足球比赛预选赛 support keeps trail development on track

like many multi-use trail projects, 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 buy-in and enthusiasm are critical to help keep them moving forward. the collaborative effort between marshall and hardin county officials, private groups that led fundraising efforts, and a design team dedicated to creating first-class amenities was the driving force that generated a level of enthusiasm that has not waned. with an estimated 223,000 people living within a half-hour drive of the new alignment, it’s anticipated that the river’s edge trail will provide ample opportunities to locals and visitors alike for recreation and exploration through america’s heartland.

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a rolling prairie trail system map shows the trail’s gently winding path through five rural communities.

when rail transportation in iowa peaked in the early 1900s, the state was home to more than 10,500 miles of track. as automobiles became the preferred mode of transportation, many short-line railroads that crisscrossed the state became less profitable and were ultimately acquired by larger companies or abandoned altogether. today, fewer than 4,000 miles of track remain operational throughout the state. advocates are working to convert many abandoned rail lines into multi-use trails, reinvigorating rural connections and providing recreation and tourism opportunities for residents and visitors.

the conservation board in butler county is diligently working to complete one such rails-to-trails project known as the rolling prairie trail. when complete, the rolling prairie trail will wind its way through five butler county communities and connect to trails in franklin county to the west and bremer county to the east. after receiving an iowa dot state recreational trails (srt) program grant and acquiring the land for the trail’s path, the butler county conservation board partnered with snyder & associates due to our firm’s extensive rail-trail development experience.

aging railroad crossings require structural retrofit

our team identified a previously unknown drainage structure on the trail route during an initial site visit. this discovery helped avoid a potential drainage issue before the project was awarded. from there, our seasoned trail professionals were able to quickly begin the process of designing the 5.45-mile stretch of the trail connecting the city of allison to neighboring bristow. the butler county conservation board had previously cleared and grubbed the trail path before the completion of the design. this enabled our team to begin their topographic survey and drainage analysis promptly, allowing 2022世界杯32强预选赛 and permitting to progress.

an in-ground drainage system manages stormwater and keeps the rolling prairie trail safe and accessible.

the trail alignment for the allison to bristow segment included five paved gravel road crossings and one crossing of local highway 14. additionally, multiple existing bridges and drainage structures required attention ranging from complete removal and replacement to reinforcement and retrofitting. our design team worked with butler county conservation to develop a plan for addressing each structure. the butler county conservation board updated and reinforced the existing bridge structures, and our team handled the 2022世界杯32强预选赛 and installation of in-ground stationary drainage systems. we also provided construction observation and administration services during the trail project’s excavation, grading, and paving portions.

to comply with the conditions of the srt grant, our team followed the dot’s federal aid policy guide and completed coordination with multiple agencies. they also ensured that each trail crossing was ada-compliant and included signage designed to alert drivers, bikers, and pedestrians of approaching intersections. removable bollards were added to the crossings to prevent motor vehicle access to the newly paved trail yet allow county vehicles to enter and exit for routine maintenance. the crossing on highway 14 includes all the same elements, with the addition of pavement markings indicating a crosswalk. fencing was added to one steep crossing to keep trail users safe.

rail-to-trail conversion provides unique recreation opportunities

today, the allison to bristow stretch of the rolling prairie trail provides users with access to wilder park and restaurants, campsites, and restroom facilities on each end. trail users experience a variety of landscapes and scenery along the trail, including native prairies, forested canopy, and updated historic railroad bridges. other trail segments provide access to wolter’s prairie preserve, heery woods state park, and multiple bicycle fix-it stations for unexpected breakdowns. the easy grade of this hard surface trail and the convenient amenities make it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.

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the relatively flat grade of this trail section provides an easy ride for most bicyclists.

most trail 2022世界杯32强预选赛 in central iowa over the past two decades has centered around making connections. whether connecting small communities or social venues, providing alternative travel access between popular destinations has been a common factor. in development for the past seven years, the red rock prairie trail is adding perhaps one of the most critical links yet. this nearly 16-mile-long trail extension (connecting monroe, prairie city, and mitchellville) is part of the long-range goal of linking saylorville lake with lake red rock and the neal smith national wildlife refuge.

the red rock prairie trail will predominately run along a former rail corridor, eventually extending from lake red rock south of monroe to the mitchellville city limits. the snyder & associates team recently completed the design and plan preparations for approximately eight miles of this multi-use trail extending from red rock park in monroe to prairie city with a direct link to the entrance of the neal smith national wildlife refuge. the trail also provides access to prairie city’s garden square park in the center of town. two former railroad bridges required structural retrofitting to complete the alignment of the eight-mile, monroe to prairie city, trail section.

rail-trail funding drives project forward

this multi-use trail has a direct link to the entrance of the neal smith national wildlife refuge.

this new, hard-surface trail has been driven by relentless fund-raising efforts being led by jasper county conservation. this grant funding has included a “…$510,000 federal lands access program grant, a $263,711 federal recreational trails grant, a $240,000 transportation alternatives program grant, and a $116,839 state recreational trails grant.”

because the former railroad line used for the trail alignment was one of the first three rail lines across central iowa, the grant manager (iowa dot) required an additional level of historical and cultural studies to ensure the project did not adversely affect the original site. our design team worked closely with iowa-based wapsi valley archaeology to ensure the new trail would not damage any areas of historic significance.

by linking the two, major central iowa lakes via a multi-use trail, state and local agencies anticipate a marked increase in out-of-state (and in-state) recreational enthusiasts using this unique trail configuration to travel between these midwestern destination spots. our design team continues to work with jasper county conservation and other agencies to plan the remaining trail sections to wrap up this important trail connection.

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paving begins on the railroad highway trail.

now standing at more than 50% complete, the dream of a completely off-roadway, multi-use trail network spanning the entire country keeps taking steps to becoming reality. when completed, the great american rail trail will extend over 3,700 miles from washington d.c. to washington state. the success of this ambitious project has relied on countless local communities spearheading the construction of their trail sections. in western iowa, the most recent addition to this trail system includes the railroad highway trail just outside of council bluffs.

the trail route will run adjacent to the existing railroad highway and when completed, this 10-foot-wide, 15.7-mile-long, hard surface trail will connect council bluffs to the communities of underwood, weston, and neola. with significant trail 2022世界杯32强预选赛 , design, funding, and construction experience in iowa and throughout the midwest, the snyder & associates team was uniquely qualified to assist pottawattamie county leaders with their plans to connect these rural communities with the omaha/council bluffs area. when finished, the trail will not only fill a significant gap in the great american rail trail, but also provide a conduit for nearby residents to walk, run, or bike through an enjoyable mixture of urban and rural landscapes.

coordination & in-house bridge design keep the project moving

in the early 2022世界杯32强预选赛 stages, our team identified numerous parcels for easement acquisition along the preferred trail route. twenty-two of those parcels presented right-of-way conflicts that our team began to address with the appropriate entities to prepare the trail path. since this roadway was previously a state highway that had been jurisdictionally transferred from the iowa dot to pottawattamie county, extensive coordination with the county engineer’s office and the county gis department was crucial in determining what constituted the existing right-of-way line.

railroad highway trail’s current and planned segments.

additionally, the trail route crosses mosquito creek at two locations, creating a need for two bridges within one mile of each other. the structural engineers from snyder & associates subsidiary, 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 , were able to seamlessly step in to prepare detailed plans for each of the bridges and help pottawattamie county choose the best option. it was determined that prefabricated, truss-style bridges were appropriate to span the 152-foot and 192-foot crossings. to date, the bridges have been installed and a short 0.9-mile stretch of trail between them is currently being designed. once paved, this “bridge gap” will connect two paved segments for a total of 3.4 continuous miles of trail.

the southernmost segment of the trail from council bluffs to underwood is currently (2022) being designed. construction of this segment is slated for 2023 and 2024, followed by the final 6.3 miles of the trail from underwood to neola.

throughout this project, the snyder & associates team has served as the lead 2022世界杯32强预选赛 and design firm, providing preliminary survey, boundary survey, and construction staking, along with our design services for trail alignment, profile design, as well as detailing for the extension and replacement of several box culvert locations along the route.

trail funding sources for the final stretch

the keys to success on projects of this magnitude are the identification and utilization of numerous trail funding sources. our team is uniquely qualified to help find the resources to get the job done. this project has been funded by a diverse collection of grants and donations, including the omaha-council bluffs metropolitan area 2022世界杯32强预选赛 agency transportation alternatives program (mapa tap), the iowa west foundation, iowa dot’s state recreational trail fund, pottawattamie county, and the pottawattamie county trails association.

seeing the full picture

multi-use trails have been gaining in popularity for decades by bringing benefits to the communities they pass through and the nearby businesses. they can increase the quality of life for residents in a community by providing space for healthy recreation and safe multimodal transportation. businesses benefit from the increased traffic and awareness of their goods and services. many rural communities in iowa and throughout the midwest have recognized the immense benefits trails have brought to similar communities and have made plans to invest in links to their existing networks.

once completed the railroad highway trail will join a growing network of hard-surface trails across iowa, including the well-known high trestle trail spanning story, boone, and dallas counties, the raccoon river valley trail in dallas county, and the t-bone trail connecting audubon and neighboring cass county. 

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to make this final connection, the trail must traverse two busy roadways, ankeny boulevard and oralabor road. the snyder & associates team continued with their high-level trail 2022世界杯32强预选赛 and design work to develop plans for a pedestrian tunnel and bridge that would tie the trail network together. at the same time, the new amenities would incorporate design aesthetics that mimic the northerly trail sections and the high trestle trail bridge between madrid and woodward.

pedestrian tunnel under ankeny boulevard (us 69) creates safe passage

from the ankeny market pavilion near 1^st street, the high trestle trail cuts diagonally through town, following the old rail line the entire trail is situated on, passing near the ankeny police station and ankeny high school. at ankeny boulevard, our team explored options for carrying trail traffic over the busy roadway. the desired option was to build a cast-in-place rcb (box culvert) pedestrian tunnel under the street to create a safer and seamless path for bicyclists and pedestrians. formliners were used to provide added detail and visual appeal to the tunnel’s concrete walls, giving the appearance of large, cut stones at a fraction of the cost.

completed in two construction seasons, traffic signal upgrades, utility work, and minor grading were necessary to prepare the area for the tunnel construction. a gravity drainage stormwater system was designed for this location, negating the need for a pump station and resulting in substantial cost savings.

tunnel construction was completed with a multi-phased staging process to keep one lane of traffic moving in both directions at all times. the tunnel design included lighting, landscaping, and the ability to configure new or additional design elements in the future. our team’s plan also established the trail alignment to continue the trail from magazine road to oralabor road during the next construction phase.

pedestrian bridge over oralabor road “book ends” high trestle trail bridge

the day after setting the bridge in place, contractors focused on paving the bridge approaches.

at the busy oralabor road location, the gay lea wilson, oralabor gateway, and high trestle trails were brought together with an attractive pedestrian bridge over the roadway. our team collaborated closely with city leaders to determine specific aesthetic details that would be included in the bridge.

the snyder & associates team, in conjunction with the structural engineers from our subsidiary, 2022足球世界杯小组赛赛程 , used an array of visualization tools and imagery to communicate detailed bridge designs and the relative costs needed to cover the construction. the design team pushed the boundaries of “typical” pedestrian bridge design to develop a unique structure worthy of its highly visible location.

the preferred theme ultimately zeroed in on a design that would pay homage to the original bridge for which the trail is named, the 1912 high trestle bridge over the des moines river. this bridge was demolished and replaced in the 1970s to create saylorville reservoir. the former west abutment of that iconic bridge still stands and has been repurposed into an overlook of the new high trestle trail bridge that replaced the railroad superstructure. the 1912 abutment has an interesting architecture that inspired the abutment frames on the bridge over oralabor road.

switchback sidewalks on either side of the roadway allow pedestrians and bicyclists to descend to the street level and access the oralabor gateway trail. or, after crossing the bridge, users can seamlessly continue south onto the gay lea wilson trail network.

trail connections establish central iowa as an outdoor destination

with the completion of these two structures and the vital trail connections they create, central iowa residents now have an incredible, interconnected array of trail options. it also has well-positioned the area as an outdoor enthusiast’s vacation destination, drawing outside money for the local market. if the hundreds of residents who attended a recent grand-opening celebration for the new bridge are any indication, these new trail links will be popular attractions for many years.

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using the acronym first ave (furthering interconnections, revitalization, streetscapes, transportation, and aesthetics for a vibrant economy), the first avenue trail project was designed to enhance the operation of the west broadway neighborhood and provide opportunities for redevelopment of blighted industrial properties. it will connect neighborhoods, schools, and businesses and provide a safe route for pedestrians and cyclists to travel across council bluffs to the riverfront, the bob kerrey pedestrian bridge, and downtown omaha.

unique design amenities honor railroad heritage

the extra-wide first avenue trail provides plenty of space for several modes of transportation. photo credit: ashley kruse, city of council bluffs

the snyder & associates designers created a plan to establish an extra-wide trail along the project area. suitable for several modes of transportation, one section of the trail has a 10-foot-wide middle section paved in asphalt for bicyclists and other faster-moving micro-mobility devices, such as e-scooters. at the same time, two-foot-wide concrete shoulders along both edges were included for slower-moving pedestrians. due to a design change, another portion of the trail is proposed to be wider, with a 12-foot middle section with two-foot-wide concrete shoulders.

more than just a trail, however, our team created a space that provides a unique user experience along the nearly two-mile-long corridor. described by many as more of a “linear park,” the area along the trail includes attractive landscaping, several 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 green spaces, and trail plazas located every three to four blocks. the plazas were designed to pay homage to the former rail line running through the area and include industrial design aspects and materials incorporated into the amenities.

the plazas also include a variety of wayfinding signage, bicycle parking, shade structures, benches, and pedestals for holding 世界杯足球比赛预选赛 art pieces in the future. a local, private business plans to add a bike-sharing station adjacent to a plaza once it’s completed. this will allow patrons to rent a bike to ride along the trail and conveniently return to other bike-share locations. additionally, since the trail runs along the backside of many businesses along west broadway, city leaders hope to start a mural program to display artistry on the back walls facing the trail.

bicyclists are already taking advantage of the new trail system. photo credit: ashley kruse city of council bluffs

special features were included where the first avenue trail passes thomas jefferson high school. this includes an attractive black, welded-wire fence with gates, ada-compliant ramps leading to the school, and long seating walls for students and trail users. additional landscaping along this section ties in with the rest of the trail. to accommodate early-morning and late-night trail users, the two-mile section has decorative lighting to create a safer user experience.

anticipated development & recreational opportunities

city leaders anticipate the first avenue trail project will spur the development of other high-density residential and mixed-use facility efforts. they expect the district will greatly benefit from the multi-modal corridor and add to the residential base needed to support expanded commercial uses along the west broadway corridor.

the first phase of construction on the trail project included the section extending from 35^th to 25^th street. construction on the 16-foot-wide, phase-two section, which extends from 25^th street to the 14^th street area, will begin in the summer of 2022. at this location, the trail will link with existing trail sections on the east side of town. plans also call for adding a new community park near this juncture on the east side of indian creek. this park would add to the community-focused amenities established by creating the first avenue trail. as professionals who also live and work in the council bluffs community, the snyder & associates team is proud of this transformational project.

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