For their capstone project in Civil & Environmental Engineering, a team of students worked to improve the functionality of West Branch streets by designing a safer, more efficient truck route.

The City of West Branch has identified and expressed a need to improve truck mobility and roadway safety through the downtown corridor. Under current conditions, heavy truck traffic runs directly through the downtown corridor, creating operational challenges for truck drivers such as congestion, inefficient turning movements, and safety concerns involving local traffic and pedestrians. These issues reduce transportation efficiency for truck movement through the town while also negatively impacting the livability, walkability, and historic character of West Branch’s downtown area. 

The project team analyzed the current route, evaluated alternative alignments, addressed constraints, and developed a roadway designs and plans that minimized impacts to surrounding residential areas and downtown businesses, while addressing environmental constraints. This project supports the City’s long-term transportation goals by improving safety, enhancing truck operations, and creating a safer, more pedestrian-friendly downtown.