Aesthetics
The final appearance of the freeway corridor is important to the success of the project. It not only must be functional from a traffic standpoint, but the corridor must be visually acceptable to the community. As part of the planning and design for the project, consideration has been and will continue to be given to the aesthetics of various features throughout the freeway corridor.

Landscaping
NDOT has had on going partnership with Carson City and the advocacy group Gardeners Reclaiming Our Waysides (GROW) about what is mutually acceptable for freeway landscaping and how to address the funding source for this element. Through this collaborative approach, a plan, which will provide for a basic landscaping treatment as the freeway is constructed and also allow for future enhancement, is being advanced. NDOT will fund the basic elements while Carson City and GROW will seek funding to provide for the future enhancement and added landscaping features.
Components of the landscaping included with the construction of the freeway include:

Revegetation of earthen freeway “slopes”
•Seed mixes will consist of native plant species common to freeway surroundings
•Application of top soil in the most visible areas to enhance vegetative growth
•Additional protection of sprayed on seeding mix during plant establishment period in the more wind prone areas.

These are the seed mixes planned for use along the Carson City Freeway side slopes.

Use of landscape boulders
• Landscape boulders will be placed on highly visible freeway slopes
• 125 boulders donated by Carson City for use on the project
• Additional boulders excavated during freeway construction will be utilized for landscaping.

Here is a drawing of the plan for boulders, talus and slope contours for the Fairview Drive Interchange.

Click to see similar drawings for the Snyder Avenue Grade Separation and the South Carson Street Interchange.

Slope Contouring
• The large traffic island areas at the freeway interchanges will be contoured and seeded to enhance their appearance.
• The large cut slope needed at the north end of the project on Lakeview Hill will be contoured and benched to better blend in with surrounding terrain.

Here is a recent photograph of the North Cut and the boulder and talus treatment.

Power hookups and irrigation conduit sleeves
•Power drops placed at gateway locations for use in future landscaping efforts
•Irrigation sleeves placed at gateways and along multi-use path for use in future irrigation installations associated with landscaping efforts.

Future Efforts
Hold your mouse over each photo to see a rendering what Carson City and GROW hope to be able to accomplish in these areas through future efforts to enhance the Freeway Corridor landscaping at Gateways such as these.

NOTE: FULL LANDSCAPING DEPICTS WHAT MAY BE DONE AT A FUTURE DATE BY CARSON CITY AFTER THE FREEWAY CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED

Arrowhead Landscaping

US 50 Interchange Landscaping

Fairview Drive Interchange Landscaping