The I-95 / SR 706 project is the newest gateway interchange that was designed by Cotleur & Hearing for the FDOT in 2015. Construction was recently completed this spring.  Cotleur & Hearing designed the landscape, temporary irrigation system, terrace walls and provided post-design inspection services throughout the eight-month construction phase, as well as the two-year establishment phase.  Cotleur & Hearing also prepared selective clearing and grubbing plans to remove all invasive, exotic vegetation which was invading the existing high quality native vegetation throughout the infields and around the many ponds on this 156-acre site.  The plans also required the contractor to thin out and trim native vegetation to provide vistas into some of the ponds, where they were previously obstructed. 

The site location is not only considered the major gateway into Jupiter and Palm Beach County, but also into subtropical south Florida.  Because of this, a very diverse palette of tropical palms and flowering trees were utilized. Many of these species are rarely seen on FDOT right-of-ways.  As with all our current transportation designs, a wide range of tree sizes were utilized and placed in natural and informal arrangements, which allows the project to age gracefully and in a way that will not be noticeable if trees die or are removed in the future. 

Cotleur & Hearing prepared detailed specifications for all the large specimen plants, including minimum root ball sizes, root pruning, minimum leaf counts, decorative trunk treatments and increased caliper dimensions.  Many tree types were required to be Florida Fancy Grade.  All trees were approved at the nursery and tagged by C&H landscape architects. 

Terrace walls were proposed in the high visibility areas to increase landscape potential on the steeply sloped embankments, to capture rainfall, to reduce erosion and to minimize maintenance efforts.  Check it out next time you are driving near the newly planted interchange in Jupiter!

Cotleur & Hearing received final approval at May Town Council for the Center Park Commercial Center PUD, Site Plan, and Special Exceptions.  Located on the south side of Center Street and west of Alternate A1A, the project will redevelop the existing storage facility site and more closely meet the current market needs.  New structures will include office, warehouse, and a climate controlled self-storage facility along with increased greenspace, new parking areas, and the redefined historical right-of-ways for Banyan Street, Orange Avenue, and  Datura Street.  While the redevelopment area only consists of the southeastern (3.9 AC) corner of the site, the overall property (11.6 AC) will include updates to improve parking areas, increase greenspace, and enhance the existing landscape buffer along Center Street.

 

Project Manager:  Don Hearing - Cotleur & Hearing

Landscape Architect:  Nicole Plunkett - Cotleur & Hearing

Architect:  REG Architects

Engineer:  Jeff H. Iravani Inc.

Traffic Consultant:  Kimley - Horn

Legal Council:  Shutts and Bowen LLP