Roadway Aesthetic Treatments photo Album Workbook

Briefing Paper -- August 2001

The Federal Lands Highway Divisions have extensive experience with
aesthetic treatments on highway projects. In an effort to document
innovative practices being applied across the nation, a Technology
Deployment project was initiated to collect information, including
photographs and design details, about aesthetic treatments used in
highway construction.

The product of this effort is a compact disc with approximately 200
examples of innovative aesthetic treatments. The [Roadway Aesthetic
Treatments photo Album Workbook]{.underline} is a compilation of
contributions from over 150 public and private transportation
organizations and is available through FHWA's Western Federal Lands
Office. The examples of innovative aesthetic treatments include
descriptions, justifications, design details if available, and a contact
for further information. The workbook has been showcased at previous
annual meetings of the American Association of State and Transportation
Highway Officials and the Transportation Research Board. The compliments
received at these showcase events are a tribute to the efforts put forth
and the value of this product to highway designers and transportation
officials.

**[Background / Update]{.underline}**: This Aesthetic Treatments Photo
Album was produced during FY 2000, providing an extensive reference
guide of innovative aesthetic treatments that have been applied on
transportation projects nationwide for bridges, walls, barriers, soil
and rock cut and fill slopes with a focus on roadway case studies. The
original guide focused on other than roadway treatments, but there were
several indications that potential roadway treatments exist which were
not included in the original. Supplements to the original guide will be
included in the updated 2002 version, but no additional solicitation for
these original treatments will be requested. This update will make the
guide more complete and useful to a broader range of professionals. The
supplements will also make the original guide more current and complete.
Currently, there is no source for information about best practices in
providing aesthetic treatments, except for the recent publication by
WFLHD. The current FHWA emphasis on Context Sensitive Design integrates
such best practices into a process to better make designs fit the human
and natural environment. The 2002 update will be a valuable supplement
of roadway and surface treatments with aesthetic value.

For each aesthetic treatment example as much of the following
information as possible will be included:

-   Agency Name

-   Brief Project and Aesthetic Treatment Description

-   Reason (s) Aesthetic Treatment Used

-   Contact Person Name and Address

-   Color Photographs

-   Contract Document Plan Sheets

-   Construction Specification

-   Bid Price Cost Data

-   Maintenance Requirements (if any)

**[Special Aesthetic Treatment Categories]{.underline}**

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| ***[1 - Rock Cut                  | ***[5 - Rockfall- Barriers,       |
| Slope]{.underline}***             | Fences, Draped                    |
|                                   | Mesh]{.underline}***              |
| Rock staining                     |                                   |
|                                   | Weathering steel guardrail        |
| Rock sculpting                    |                                   |
|                                   | Steel backed timber               |
| Fresh and weathered               |                                   |
|                                   | Stone masonry or simulated stone  |
| Half casts                        |                                   |
|                                   | Concrete core w/stone or timber   |
| Other                             | facade                            |
|                                   |                                   |
| ***[2 - Soil Cut                  | Gabion Barriers                   |
| Slope]{.underline}***             |                                   |
|                                   | GM rail w/aesthetic treatment     |
| Serrated Soil                     |                                   |
|                                   | Brugg or other proprietary fence  |
| Creation of natural looking land  |                                   |
| forms                             | DOTs own fence                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Special vegetative treatments     | Colored vinyl coated chain link   |
|                                   | or gabion mesh fences or slope    |
| Other                             | screening                         |
|                                   |                                   |
| ***[3-Fill Slopes]{.underline}*** | Other                             |
|                                   |                                   |
| Rock 1.25H : 1V                   | ***[6 - Bridges]{.underline}***   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Re-vegetated                      | Colored or stained concrete       |
|                                   |                                   |
| Reinforced slopes                 | Stone masonry or simulated stone  |
|                                   |                                   |
| Other                             | Form liner treatments             |
|                                   |                                   |
| ***[4 - Retaining                 | Custom treatments                 |
| Walls]{.underline}***             |                                   |
|                                   | Timber                            |
| Form liner treatments             |                                   |
|                                   | Other                             |
| Painted or stained face           |                                   |
|                                   | ***[7 - Bioengineering            |
| Natural stone facing              | Treatments]{.underline}***        |
|                                   |                                   |
| Simulated stone facing            | Waddles                           |
|                                   |                                   |
| Custom treatments                 | Bio-logs                          |
|                                   |                                   |
| Bush Hammer finished concrete     | Live stakes                       |
|                                   |                                   |
| Vegetation planted facing         | Live planted walls                |
|                                   |                                   |
| Shotcrete facing                  | Logs and boulders on slope        |
|                                   |                                   |
| MSE w/Precast Facings             | Bounded fiber matrix              |
|                                   |                                   |
| Segmental block walls             | Organic based fertilizer          |
|                                   |                                   |
| Welded wire faced                 | Riprap barbs                      |
|                                   |                                   |
| Timber faced                      | Matings                           |
|                                   |                                   |
| Other                             | Other                             |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

To get your copy of the [Roadway Aesthetic Treatments Photo Album
Workbook]{.underline} contact the following:

> **Agency/Division**: FHWA Western Federal Lands Division
>
> **Name**: Cal Frobig **Phone**: 360-696-7648
>
> **Name:** Rich Barrows **Phone:** 360-696-7704