Gresham Smith’s Transportation Expertise on Display at ASHE National Conference
Gresham Smith announces that three staff members in the firm’s Transportation and Land Planning markets will share expertise and insights at the American Society of Highway Engineers National Conference on Friday, May 10, in Nashville. Senior Transportation Engineer Jon Storey, P.E., PTOE, will share how the Gresham Smith-led study at the I-40/Donelson Pike interchange led to plans for a diverging diamond solution at one of Nashville’s most congested interchanges. Additionally, Senior Transportation Engineer John Eckler, P.E., and Landscape Architect Patrick Henry, PLA, ASLA, will showcase Gresham Smith’s design for Town Branch Commons, highlighting how the multi-modal greenway system is set to transform Lexington, Kentucky’s urban core.
“As the ASHE National Conference sponsorship committee co-chair, I am excited and proud to welcome attendees to Nashville for a week of education and networking opportunities,” said Storey. “John, Patrick and I look forward to sharing case studies on recent projects and showcasing how we’re pushing boundaries toward safer, multi-modal solutions.”
Summaries of the presentations are below.
I-40 at Donelson Pike Interchange Access Request
Presentation by Senior Transportation Engineer Jon Storey, P.E., PTOE and TDOT’s Shaun Armstrong
At the request of the Nashville International Airport, the Tennessee Department of Transportation initiated a study on the modification of the Interstate 40/State Route 255 (Donelson Pike), Exit 216 interchange. The interchange serves as the primary land-side gateway into Nashville International Airport. The purpose of the proposed interchange modification is to improve traffic operations, eliminate queues from reaching the I-40 mainline and improve overall safety. Gresham Smith proposed a Diverging Diamond Interchange for the high-profile project, which was funded through the Tennessee 2017 IMPROVE highway funding act.
Designing Like We Live: Bringing Town Branch Commons to Life
Presentation by Senior Transportation Engineer John Eckler, P.E., and Landscape Architect Patrick Henry, PLA, ASLA
Town Branch Commons, is a 3.2-mile long multimodal trail, greenway and park system in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. When complete, the project will connect Lexington’s urban core with the Bluegrass countryside, improving connectivity, emphasizing placemaking and honoring the city’s natural history. During this session, attendees will learn how greenways and trail systems contribute to community vitality, as well as decision-making and design strategies from the Town Branch Commons project.