Project Examples
Creative Intersection Reconfigurations
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The intersection of State Trunk Highway 13 and Blueberry Road in Bayfield County, WI experiences safety issues due to horizontal and vertical curvature, mobility problems for all modes of travel during peak summer tourist seasons, and acts as a barrier between parts of the Red Cliff Tribal community. As a part of the development of the Red Cliff Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, Dean Chamberlain (prior to founding Great Places) provided a concept design for this intersection to enhance safety, mobility, and community connection by converting the intersection into a 5-legged roundabout with enhanced pedestrian/bicyclist crossings.
Reconnecting the Street Grid with a Vibrant Street that Works for the Future
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The City of Minneapolis is working to reconnect Nicollet Avenue between Cecil Newman Lane and Lake Street, which was severed from the street grid in the 1970's to make room for a big box retail store. The City purchased the store location and is aiming to reconnect Nicollet Avenue and redevelop the site to support land use that better fits the surrounding neighborhood. Prior to founding Great Places, Dean Chamberlain led the development of concept design alternatives and the development of plans to the 30% level and assisted with tasks for final design of the roadway reconstruction. Roadway construction is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
Enhancing Mobility and Quality of Life for Transit Users
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​By upgrading the bus shelters and making accessibility improvements in Superior, WI, we were able to make small but mighty improvements for the community. Great Places led the design process and construction administration for the ADA-compliant concrete pads and shelter improvements to dozens of transit stops within the City of Superior, with construction being completed in 2026.
Preserving Infrastructure Plus Enhancing Safety and Mobility
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Even "basic" or "routine" projects like pavement maintenance projects, mill and overlay projects, and preservation projects provide opportunities to make targeted, low-cost safety and mobility improvements that improve the community. Great Places has designed and administered the construction of many such projects in communities across the Midwest.