|
Saving Historic Roads more lanes and faster speeds,
<br /> unaware such requests are
<br /> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Marriott
<br /> equivalent to developing a
<br /> Across the United States our for Historic Preservation in
<br /> food court in the dining room
<br /> historic roads are in danger. 1996. of Jefferson's Monticello.
<br /> o Similar pressures across
<br /> They are being lost
<br /> at an Many of our nation's -���� ;::r: :t,' -1'. .•': :=xs. ,F: .
<br /> the United States are jeopard-
<br /> izing `�'�•"'' - = ""l�' "-'�-•''��"--
<br /> alarming rate to replacement, historic roads still function izing our significant historic _
<br /> realignment, and outright admirably. Historic roads
<br /> road resources.Parkways,U.S.
<br /> destruction. At risk are our provide direct and efficient routes, and early freeways are
<br /> first transcontinen- commuting links, take us to
<br /> parkways, g being altered or lost as state
<br /> tal highways, and early free- places of natural beauty and
<br /> highway departments, engi-
<br /> ways.While interest in these recreation, and link commu-
<br /> neers, and road managers
<br /> roads as historic resources is nities.The fact that the gener-
<br /> determine the need for addi-
<br /> beginning, it is occurring at al public still uses these
<br /> the same time in which new resources on a daily basis in tional roadway capacity,safety, w
<br /> safety standards, aggressive many ways diminishes recog- or upgrading. Decisions to
<br /> driving, and congestion nition of their historic value. remove canopy trees, stone
<br /> py historic roads to survive, then
<br /> ant balustrades and elegant ;
<br /> threaten their very existence. Consider the Bronx River walls, design,preservation,and engi-
<br /> For a growing number of indi- Parkway,for example.There the addition of lanes on park- neering communities must ' ' kua"` nNeui Yorsho2im
<br /> ways severing the motorist's �;Y;*,:i
<br /> viduals in historic preserva- are no velvet ropes separating recognize that safety and his- n0;=_uasone:ofttie:.: .
<br /> relationship with the land- �hF ,_ ;,:,,.,.;• ,::.;.:,.:
<br /> tion,transportation,planning the parkway from the sur- toric preservation are not ..�.
<br /> nest evemmis6f,earl
<br /> scape; and the loss of views -r>
<br /> and even engineering,a wake- rounding community. No mutually exclusive. Innova-
<br /> 4:t,. adzu deli
<br /> u call is beingissued for the admission fees. No guides in and viewsheds are destroying tive and thoughtful design .>:
<br /> resources few yet recognize asw= 1'hotq b}?H`Gilriiore';,'
<br /> recognition and preservation period costume to whisk you enhance safety while honor-
<br /> historic.What is being lost is
<br /> of historic roads. away on an interpretive tour , not only the history of road- ing the innovations of the landscape at the beginning of
<br /> Roadways such as the in a Model T.Perhaps unfortu- past. Yet faced with bigger
<br /> way construction and engi- the 20th century are now
<br /> Bronx River Parkway (1906- nately,the Bronx River Park- vehicles, higher speeds, and being straightened for fear that
<br /> 1924) in New York,for exam- waystill functions quite effec- neering in the United States, g g
<br /> q but, in many instances, the aggressive driving, many a driver traveling at an exces-
<br /> ple, which was not only a tively in moving today's historic roads are having
<br /> model of environmental recla-- modem automobiles.Most of history of landscape architec- sive rate of speed will lose con-
<br /> -, ture and environmental recta- greater difficulty providing a trot of his or her vehicle and
<br /> mation,but also such a signif- the parkways daily users are safe driving environment.
<br /> icant advance in highway unaware of the road's immense mation.What's driving these sue the local or state govern-
<br /> design decisions?Safety,liability con- The question arises: to what ment because the road does
<br /> design that it would serve as a and innovative contributions extent must roads designed
<br /> prototype for the Autobahn in to transportation design and cems,and ignorance. g not meet currently held design
<br /> for different uses and speeds practices.
<br /> Germany and the then- technology (the first use of a be forced to accommodate
<br /> emerging California freeway median,separated grade inter- At Issue:Safety and modem demands?
<br /> system, have become so changes for automobiles, and LiabilityInconsistency in the
<br /> threatened, that the parkway night lighting outside an While some historic Application of Standards
<br /> was listed as one of America's urban area). So, like many Providing a safe driving envi- roads do pose safety concerns, PP
<br /> 11 Most Endangered Historic urban roads,the parkway faces ronment for both motorists many more are being destroyed While many threats to
<br /> Places by the National Trust constant citizen clamoring for and other highway users is of because of fear of liability. the integrity of historic roads
<br /> paramount importance. For Roads gently aligned in the come from changes in use or
<br /> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
<br /> • • • • • • • • • • • • • ♦ • • • • F 0 R U M ♦j 0 U R N A L S•U M•M E•R • 2.0 O O
<br />
|