20071818 Ver 1_General Correspondence_20061202

New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee
P.O. Box 51537
Durham, NC 27717
Robert G. Healy, co-chair
Hildegard Ryals, co-chair
December 2, 2006
Mr. Mike Mills
District 7 Engineer
NC Division ofTransportation-Department of Highways
PO Box 14996
Greensboro, NC 27415-4996
Re: Project B-4218
Dear Mr. Mills:
I write on behalf of the New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee (NHCCAC). I
am pleased to have the opportunity to provide input to the planning process for the
replacement of the SR 1730 (Turkey Farm Road) bridge over New Hope Creek, Project
B-4218. As you may know, the New Hope Creek Open Space Master Plan was adopted
in 1991 by the Town of Chapel Hill, Orange County, the City of Durham and Durham
County. The Committee was created in 1992 to advise the four local governments
regarding implementation of the New Hope Plan. The Plan is designed to promote
measures which will preserve and enhance the aesthetic, environmental, educational and
recreational values of the area.
Through discussions within the NHCCAC and with other individuals and groups we offer
the following recommendations which we believe should be incorporated into the design
and construction of this bridge:
An off-site detour should be used during construction, employing existing roads rather
than building a temporary bridge on site.
The replacement bridge should have no bents (piers) within the creek, minimizing debris
damming.
Clearing and .grubbing of vegetation should be held to the minimum so as to limit solar
input to the creek waters
High Quality Waters (HQW) erosion and. sedimentation measures should be followed
throughout the process.

The replacement span should be high enough (at least 7 feet high from normal pool) and
wide enough (between bents) to minimize scouring and damage to benthic habitats,
facilitate dry land passage of wildlife and accommodate possible future pedestrian use.
Scuppers on the replacement bridge should not empty directly into the stream, but instead
be piped to the flood plain for filtration of contaminants.
Removal of the existing structure should be done with utmost care so as not to allow any
debris to enter the stream.
The replacement bridge should be constructed of sufficient width to accommodate
bike/pedestrian lanes but no more than 2 lanes of automobile traffic.
In addition, it is our understanding from the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program,
that the section of New Hope Creek in the vicinity of the Turkey Farm Road Bridge
supports a population of rare, and as yet undescribed, species of freshwater mussel
(Lampsilis sp). We strongly suggest that input from Natural Heritage ecologists be
obtained before formulating plans for the structure.
I am enclosing copies of a few photos that help illustrate some of our concerns.
Thank you for considering our input. We remain ready to discuss further details and
implementation of measures which will protect the integrity of the values of the New
Hope Creek Corridor, and we look forward to hearing from you in this regard.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Healy