Highway Wall Structure Aesthetic Design Guidance

This course provides comprehensive guidance on the aesthetic design of highway wall structures, including retaining walls, MSE walls, and soil nail walls. It emphasizes the importance of integrating visual design with structural engineering to create corridor features that enhance community identity, minimize visual disruption, and align with local scenic and cultural values. The course outlines how to incorporate textures, patterns, colors, and form liner types into wall designs, along with guidance on stakeholder engagement and context-sensitive solutions (CSS).

Topics include best practices for coordinating architectural and structural design, using elastomeric form liners for high-quality textures, aligning aesthetic treatments with construction techniques, and meeting safety and constructability standards. It also addresses practical design and construction considerations such as color fading, anti-graffiti coatings, sculpted shotcrete walls, test panels, and use of referee samples.

Learning Objectives

This course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:

• Coordinate structural and aesthetic design elements to ensure constructability and design intent alignment.
• Apply context-sensitive solutions (CSS) to align wall aesthetics with local community values and corridor themes.
• Specify appropriate surface textures, patterns, and materials—such as elastomeric form liners – for durable and visually appealing finishes.
• Incorporate safety, maintenance, and cost considerations into the aesthetic design of highway wall structures.
• Use test panels, referee samples, and stakeholder input to validate and refine wall aesthetic treatments during project development.

Download the Course to review and begin earning your PDH credits.

We provide technical courses for PDH credits that meet Board requirements for Professional Engineers, Geologists and Land Surveyors. This courses is guaranteed to be accepted in AK, AL, AR, AZ, DE, GA, FL, IA, IL, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV, and WY. Before purchasing this course, please confirm that your state Board is listed above.