The Design Process Needs and Constraints

Overview

The US 60/65 interchange in southeast Springfield was built more than 30 years ago. Its cloverleaf design clearly marks it as a relic of a time when traffic volumes were much lower. The anticipated volumes of the 2030s would have sounded far-fetched, to say the least. Of course, back then, 2030 was 60 years in the future.

The new interchange design must accommodate the traffic volumes of 2030 while easing today's traffic woes. This must be done at the earliest possible date and within a very efficient budget.

A preferred plan has been chosen to rebuild the US 60/65 interchange.  The money budgeted is not enough for the total replacement of the interchange. Replacing all ramps could cost anywhere from $100 million to $200 million dollars. So highway designers concentrated on the most congested areas. The plan to rebuild the interchange will solve a number of important problems:

• Two loop ramps will become "flyover" ramps. This eliminates the loop to loop weave in the three areas where traffic volumes are too high for the weaving distance. This also flattens the curve of the two highest-volume ramps.
  
  
• The design will fit the terrain and minimize impacts to important areas around the interchange. This includes avoiding burial sites, hiking trail and conservation property.
  
  
• Traffic will keep moving. Construction will be staged to minimize disruptions. Bypasses and detours will be provided where existing lanes must be closed.
  
  
• The new "flyover" ramps will be finished early in the construction timeline, providing congestion relief and shifting that traffic away from the remaining construction.
  
  
• Bridge columns will be placed to allow for lanes to be added to US 65 and US 60 when money becomes available.
  
  
• The railroad tracks will be spanned by bridges. US 60 and ramp traffic will no longer need to stop for trains.

Construction begins the summer of  2009.

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