Gateway Master Plan Presented by Orion Planning & Design

At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Bob Barber with Orion Planning and Design presented the Gateway Master Plan.  The goal of this plan is to improve the appearance and mobility around Exit 16 as the entrance to the City.  It focuses on landscaping, sidewalks, art, decorative street lights, and paved crosswalks.  The Plan includes 1.7 miles of roadway, and the City will carry this look throughout the entire commercial district including a town center.  

The Gateway Master Plan will be constructed in phases as funding becomes available.   Orion Planning used the plans that MDOT has created for the Exit 16 improvements which includes 3 new roundabouts, expanding the I-10 overpass to add a 2nd northbound traffic lane and adding a new 10 foot multi-modal lane over I-10 to allow golf carts, bikes and pedestrians to safely cross the interstate from north to south.

Construction of phase 1 of the Town Center Project is expected to begin this summer.  Phase 2 of the Town Center Project is slated to begin by the end of 2022.  The city is currently working on improvements to East Aloha Drive based on this same urban design.