Untitled Document

Reconstruction of Cotterell Rest Area
wins 2014 ACEC Engineering Excellence Award

The reconstruction of the Cotterell Rest Area at milepost 229, about seven miles toward Utah from the Interstate 84/Interstate 86 split, has earned a first-place award from the ACEC (American Council of Engineering Companies) of Idaho. In addition to rebuilding the westbound (pictured above) and eastbound restroom facilities and revamping the water and wastewater systems, crews also lengthened the entry and exit lanes to the rest area from the freeway to improve drivers’ safety.

The award will be presented to ITD and to the partnering firm Keller Associates Inc,. of Meridian, at the Engineering Excellence Award luncheon April 13, 2015, in Boise.

The Cotterell Rest Area is the busiest facility of its kind in District Four (south-central Idaho) and one of the busiest in the state. Among the many challenges faced during the design phase included limited funds to reconstruct the facility, limited time to complete the design (20 months from concept to bid advertisement), and limited ability to expand the footprint of the rest area.

“The result of the project are facilities that are efficient, reduce operation and maintenance costs, and provide the traveling public a comfortable and safe rest area,” said District Four Engineer Devin Rigby.