CLIENT
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

AWARDS
2000 Community Award - Museum District Business Alliance
2003 American Road & Transp. Builders Assoc. (ARTBA) Globe Award
2003 Texas Construction Best of 2003 Award for Transportation
2003 National Partnership for Highway Quality (NPHQ) Special Recognition
2003 Texas Quality Initiative (NPHQ) Special Recognition Award for Innovation
2003 AGC Build America Award, Special Recognition for Highway Renovation
2003 National Steel Bridge Alliance Prize Bridge Competition, Medium Span Cat
2003 TXDOT Texas Project Award

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
In collaboration with SWA Group, RDLR Architects, Inc. provided design services to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for the widening of the US-59 Freeway corridor between South Shepherd and the end of Spur 527. The design elements include retaining walls, screen wall, landscape planting, pedestrian paving, signage and lighting. In addition, four new replacement bridges were designed by RDLR.

Serving both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, the bridges over US-59 connect neighborhoods on either side of the interstate highway. Designed as part of TxDOT’s aesthetic enhancement program, the bridges serve as “Gateways to Houston.” An unexpected result of the bridge design was the high pedestrian traffic that occurs as neighboring residents stroll from one neighborhood to the next to and from schools, offices, and community activities. Now a community focal point, residents are eager to use the bridges for block-parties and other community events.