Bridge Aesthetics for Reconstruction of System Interchange at 1-25 and 1-40: New "Big I," Albuquerque, New Mexico

Abstract

The interchange reconstruction project at I-25 and I-40 will be used as a case study to show that aesthetic enhancements that are simple yet have significant visual impact can be developed and implemented for bridges. The history of the planning process is traced, and the vision and goals for the aesthetic enhancements are described. Attention is then turned to the way recommendations were developed into reality from the design and public consultation process through to the implementation of the design of aesthetic features. The New Mexico Department of Transportation and the city of Albuquerque had the foresight to plan the aesthetics for their Interstate reconstruction program in a corridorwide fashion well ahead of the actual design and construction. That planning allowed the stakeholders to agree on a vision of what the reconstructed Interstate should look like and provide to the surrounding community. This vision was continued in the final design of the new bridges. Designers chose bridge aesthetic treatments that blended into the surrounding landscape. Bold use of color, repetitive bridge elements, and repeating textures added to simple and fluid structure lines, producing economical bridges that made a visual statement. Fiscal responsibility was injected in the development of the aesthetic treatments by involving the owner and major stakeholders in the aesthetic task force. Estimated construction costs were continually monitored during the design with input from the contracting community. Finally, when money was tight, difficult decisions were made to delay certain aesthetic elements, such as public art, until alternative funding could be secured.