Rest areas, I-90/94, Wisconsin Department of Transportation – Columbia County, Wisconsin

Safety and space were the biggest concerns while redesigning Wisconsin’s busiest rest areas – Rest Areas 11 and 12.  During peak traffic periods, the existing eastbound and westbound rest areas incur heavy traffic, and overcrowding was causing safety concerns for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).  To improve safety, the WisDOT needed to increase the rest areas’ capacity which will make them the biggest rest areas in the state.  Mead & Hunt is providing an extensive redesign of both the interstate exit and entrance ramps, truck and car parking lots, and new, modern public rest areas.

The WisDOT wanted the rest areas to promote tourism in Wisconsin.  Mead & Hunt’s team of engineers and architects are designing an open and nurturing building with “prairie style” architecture.  The low, sloped roofs and large overhangs allow the new facility to blend into the sloped hillsides and provide additional outdoor protection for travelers.  The building’s base of stone and horizontal bands fit nicely into the natural setting.  The user-friendly and easy to maintain interior will be inviting and spacious, and offer a comforting environment.

The State Patrol will have an office and break room at the new facility to assist with their patrolling of the Interstate.  Travelers will be treated to outdoor landscaped picnic areas and high-quality public rest rooms.  Vending spaces and customer telephones will offer additional conveniences.  Extensive display space will be provided for Wisconsin tourism brochures.

The 10,000-square-foot precast building will be durable enough to last for decades.  The metal roof, exterior stone and open glass areas provide an attractive and quality structure.  The design team wanted to “surprise” visitors entering the building by offering large, dramatic, inviting interior spaces with high-vaulted ceilings.  From the exterior, the building will have an understated appearance.

This project presented several design challenges in coordinating existing facilities with the new paved areas.  Much coordination between the involved parties allowed for a very successful project design.