20200234 Ver 1_BR-0114 Application Cover Letter_20200212

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Roy COOPER
GOVERNOR
February 12, 2020
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Regulatory Field Office
151 Patton Avenue, Room 208
Asheville, NC 28801-5006
ATTN: Ms. Nicholle Braspennickx
NCDOT Coordinator
TAMES H. TROGDON, III
SECRETARY
Subject: Application for Section 404 Nationwide Permit 13 and 33, and 401 Water
Quality Certification for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 165 on SR
1601 (Branton Road) over Rocky Creek in Iredell County, Division 12, TIP No.
BR-0114, WBS Element 48823.1.1.
Dear Madam:
NCDOT proposes to replace Bridge No. 165 on S.R. 1601 (Branton Road) over Rocky Creek in
Iredell County. NCDOT Structures Management Unit records indicate Bridge No. 480165 has a
sufficiency rating of 69.92 out of a possible 100 and has a posted weight limit. The proposed
project will be designed to meet the legal load rating.
The project proposes replacing the existing two-lane bridge with an approximately 30-foot wide
structure with two 10-foot travel lanes with 3-foot 11-inch paved shoulders. The proposed
bridge would be approximately 102 feet in length and the proposed right of way varies from 40
feet to 90 feet. The total length of the project is approximately 740 feet. The proposed bridge
will not be posted and will be designed to meet the legal load rating. The bridge replacement
will be constructed in place using an off -site detour and includes structural and geometric
improvements. The roadway is classified as a Local Route with a 55-mile per hour design
speed with a sag vertical curve (K value) design exception that will result in a speed limit reduction
in the area of the bridge. Bridge No. 480165 has a posted Single Vehicle weight limit of 21 tons
and a Truck Tractor Semitrailer weight limit of 24 tons. The project has been designed to meet the
legal load rating.
There will be a total of 61 linear feet of bank stabilization impacts. There will be a total of 64
linear feet (0.01 acre) of temporary impacts from the impervious dike on both the left and right
banks of Rocky Creek; however, all but three (3) if are within the bank stabilization impacts.
Mailing Address: Location:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Telephone: [phone] BIRCH RIDGE DRIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS UNIT Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968 RALEIGH NC 27610
1598 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-1598 Website: www.ncdot.gov

There will be no utility impacts for this project.
Avoidance and Minimization
NCDOT has avoided permanent stream impacts to Rocky Creek (other than bank stabilization)
by spanning the creek with the bridge. The only permanent stream impacts will be those for
bank stabilization under the new bridge and at the tie-in of the V-ditch at Sta. 15+98 LT.
Mitigation
NCDOT does not propose mitigation for the 61 linear feet of bank stabilization impacts, as bank
stabilization does not require fill in the streambed and therefore, under Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act, does not constitute Loss of Waters of the U.S. and is not subject to compensatory
mitigation.
Please see enclosed copies of the Pre -Construction Notification (PCN), stormwater management
plan, permit drawings and design plans for the above -referenced project.
A Categorical Exclusion was completed in July 2019 and distributed shortly thereafter. Additional
copies are available upon request.
This project calls for a letting date of July 21, 2020 and a review date of June 2, 2020.
A copy of this permit application and its distribution list will be posted on the NCDOT Website
at: http://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/Environmental. If you have any questions or need
additional information, please contact Bill Barrett at wabarrettgncdot.gov or [phone].
Sincerely,
Philip S. Harris III, P.E., C.P.M.
Environmental Analysis Unit Head
Cc: NCDOT Permit Application Standard Distribution List