U-3405_complete file

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TMNSPORIATION
JAMES B. HUNT JR. P.O. BOX 25201, RALEIGH, N.C. 27611-5201
GOVERNOR
January 12, 1999
E. NORRIS TOLSON
SECRETARY
Ld 00
MEMORANDUM TO: Ms. Cyndi Bell
DWQ - DENR
FROM: William D. Gilmore, P. E., Manager ??'' ?ysisB
Pro
ject Development and Environmental An SUBJECT: Review of Scoping Sheets for NC 274 (Gastonia Highway), From
Main Avenue (SR 1484) in Bessemer City to NC 275, Gaston
County, Federal Project No. STP-274(2), State Project
No. 8.1811501, TIP Project No. U-3405
Attached for your review and comments are the scoping sheets for the subject project
(See attached map for project location). The purpose of these sheets and the related review
procedure is to have an early "meeting of the minds" as to the scope of work that should be
performed and thereby enable us to better implement the project. A scoping meeting for this
project is scheduled for February 11, 1999 at 1:00 PM in the Project Development and
Environmental Analysis Branch Conference Room (Room 470). You may provide us with your
comments at the meeting or mail them to us prior to that date.
Thank you for your assistance in this part of our planning process. If have any questions
about the meeting or the scoping sheets, please call Derrick Weaver, Project Planning Engineer,
at 733-7844, Ext. 208.
WDG/plr
Attachment
NCO)
PROJECT SCOPING SHEET
Date 7/29/98
Revision Date 12/28/98
Project Development Stage
Programming
Planning X
Design
TIP # U-3405
Project # 8.1811501
F.A. Project # STP-274(2)
Division 12
County Gaston
Route NC 274 (Gastonia Highway)
Functional Classification Urban Other Principal Arterial
Length 2.3 km (1.4 miles)
Purpose of Project:
C 274
Description of project (including specific limits) and major elements of work:
The project consist of widening NC 274 (Gastonia Highway) to a five-lane 19
attached map).
Type of environmental document to be prepared: EA and FONSI
Environmental study schedule: EA August 2000 FONSI June 2001
Will there be special funding participation by municipality, developers, or other?
Yes No-X
If yes, by whom and amount: M or (%)
How and when will this be paid?
PROJECT SCOPING SHEET
Type of Facility: Urban Other Principal Arterial
Type of Access Control: Full Partial None X
Type of Roadway:
ith 1.2
7.2
interchanges Grade Separations Stream Crossings
Typical Section of Roadway:
faciliThe proposed cross section is a five-lane, 19.2 meter (64-foot) curb and utter
Traffic: Current 14120 Design Year 20000 % Trucks 4
Design Standards Applicable:
Design Speed: 50 mph
Preliminary Resurfacing Design:
Preliminary Pavement Design:
Current Cost Estimate:
AASHTO X 3R
Construction Cost (including engineering and contingencies).... $_3,800,000.00
Right of Way Cost (including rel., util., and acquisition)....... $
Force Account Items ................................... $
Preliminary Engineering ................................. $
Total Cost ........................................... $
TIP Cost Estimate:
Construction ....................................... $ 3,400 ,000.00
Right of Way ...................................... $ 3,000, 000.00
Total Cost ........................................ $ 6,400 ,000.00
PROJECT SCOPING SHEET
List any special features, such as railroad involvement, which could affect cost or
schedule of project:
ITEMS REQUIRED ( X ) COMMENTS COST
Estimated Costs of Improvements:
X Pavement
X Surface ...................................... $ 635,800.00
X Resufacing ................................... $ 89.550.00
Milling & Recycling (Removal) .................... $
Turnouts .................................... $
Shoulders: Paved ............................ $
Earth ............................. $
X Earthwork ........................................ $ 395,400.00
Subsurface Items: .................................. $
X Subgrade and Stabilization ........................... $ 217,350.00
X Drainage (List any special items) ....................... $ 337.500.00
Sub-Drainage ...................................... $
Structures: Width x Length
Bridge Rehabilitation x ........ $
New Bridge x .....,.. $
Widen Bridge x ... , , , . , $
Remove Bridge x ..... , , , $
New Culverts:
Size Length Fill Ht. ..... $
Culvert Extension .............................. $
X Retaining Walls:
Type Conc. Avg. Ht. +/- 4' Skew +/- 0° .... $ 123.500.00
Noise Walls .................................. $
Any Other Misc. Structures ...................... $
X Concrete Curb & Gutter ............................. $ 128,250.00
Concrete Sidewalk .................................. $
Guardrail ......................................... $
Fencing: W.W. and/or C.L. ............ $
X Erosion Control .................................... - $ 30,000.00
Landscape ........................................ $
Lighting .......................................... $
X Traffic Control ..................................... $ 60,750.00
Signing: New ................................. $
Upgrading ........................... $
X Traffic Signals X New ........................... $ 45,000.00
Revised ........................ $
RR Signals: New .............................. $
Revised ........................... $
With or Without Arms ............... $
If 3R: Drainage Safety Enhancement .............. $
Roadside Safety Enhancement ............. $
Realignment for Safety Upgrade............ $
X Pavement Markings:
Paint Thermo X Markers X .......... $ 32,400.00
X Utility Constr. (Water and Sewer) ....................... $ 427,680.00
X Other(Mob.andMisc., Clear and Grubbing) ................ $ 789,820.00
CONTRACT COST (Subtotal): $ 3,313,000.00
PROJECT SCOPING SHEET
Contingencies & Engineering ............................... $ 487,000.00
PE Costs ............................................... . $
Force Account ............................................ $
Right of Way:
Will Contain within Exist Right of Way:
Existing Right of Way Width:
New Right of Way Needed: Width
Easements: Type Width
Utilities:
Subtotal: $ 3,800,000.00
Yes No
Est. Cost $
Est. Cost '$
Right of Way Subtotal: $
Total Estimated Cost: (Includes R/W) $
Prepared By: Derrick Weaver Date: August 4, 1998
The above scoping has been reviewed and approved* by:
INIT. DATE INIT. DATE
Highway Design Board of Tran. Member
Roadway Mgr. Program & Policy
Structure Chief Engineer-Precons
Design Services Chief Engineer-Oper.
Geotechnical Secondary Roads Off.
Hydraulics Construction Branch
Loc. & Surveys Roadside Enviro.
Photogrammetry Maintenance Branch
Prel. Est. Engr. RA 8-3-98 Bridge Maintenance
Planning & Environ. Statewide Planning
Right of Way Division Engineer
R/W Utilities Bicycle Coordinator
Traffic Engineering Program Development
Project Management FHWA
County Manager Dept. of Cult. Res.
City/Municipality Dept. of EH & NR
Others
Scope Sheet for local officials will be sent to Division Engineer for handling.
Comments or Remarks:
*If you are not in agreement with proposed project or scoping, note your proposed
revisions in Comments or Remarks Section and initial and date after comments.

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL
w BRANCH
VICINITY MAP
SR 1484 (MAINE AVENUE) TO NC 275
NC 274 (GASTONIA HIGHWAY)
GASTON COUNTY
TIP NO. U-3405
0 .50 1 MILES
FIG.1
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
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WdTER OU pU l1Y SE_CTIQN__.,,,_.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
JAMES B. HUNT JR. P.O. BOX 25201, RALEIGH, N.C. 27611-5201 E. NORRIS TOLS
GOVERNOR SECRETARY
February 22, 1999
MEMORANDUM TO: File
?.
FROM: Derrick G. Weaver, Project Development Engineer
SUBJECT: Scoping meeting minutes for the proposed widening NC 274 (Gastonia
Highway), from SR 1484 (Maine Avenue) to NC 275 (Dallas/Bessemer
City Road). The project is 1.4 miles in length. Federal-Aid Project
Number STP-274(2), State Project Number 8.1811501, TIP Project U-
3405.
The scoping meeting for the subject project was held on February 11, 1999 in the Project
Development and Environmental Analysis (PDEA) Branch conference room (470). The
following people were in attendance:
Derrick Weaver PDEA
Linwood Stone PDEA
Quantae Durante PDEA
Jimmy Goodnight Roadway
Cynthia Perry Roadway
David Chang Hydraulics
Chris Bartelson Bessemer City
Elizabeth Honeycutt Traffic Control
Alpesh Patel Statewide Planning
Ray Manieri Community Impacts
John Taylor Location and Surveys
Bob Deaton Bicycle and Pedestrians
Debbie Self Congestion Management
Neil Mastin Congestion Management
Dan Hinton Federal Highway Administration

h, addition.to these participants, the following persons submitted written or verbal
comments on the project prior to the meeting:
Steve Lund US Army Corps of Engineers
!FV ` ?Vavid Cox Wildlife Resource Commission
Cyndi Bell Division of Water Quality
Dan Grissom NCDOT (Division 12)
Jim Harris NCDOT (Rail Division)
Bob Cooke Gastonia MPO
A review of the comments received prior to the meeting is listed below:
Steve Lund, David Cox and Cyndi Bell all agreed that they knew of no stream crossing
and did not expect any wetland impacts along the proposed project. Therefore, they do not
expect the project to require any Section 404 permits. They did ask that we conduct a field
review of the area and report our findings in the Environmental Assessment (EA) for their
review.
Dan Grissom reported the following items to be considered in the development of the
EA: the traffic volume peaks along the roadway due to shift work at the many large industries;
the UST's associated with several gas stations along the proposed -L- line; and the proximity of
the railroad.
Jim Harris indicated that the Norfolk Southern Railroad line paralleling the roadway is
part of the southeast high-speed rail corridor. The track carries freight and commercial
passengers. All widening should occur away from the rail line.
Bob Cooke recommended the inclusion of wide outside travel lanes to accommodate
bicycles and sidewalks on both sides of the proposed project.
The City of Gastonia formally requested the installation of sidewalks on both sides of
Bessemer City Road from NC 275 (Dallas-Bessemer City Road) to its corporate limits,
approximately 100 feet east of SR 1490 (Best Street).
The following narrative presents the highlights from the meeting which pertain to the
project:
TIP Project No. U-2408, described as widening NC 274 (Bessemer City Road), from NC
275 (Dallas-Bessemer City Road) to US 29/74 (Franklin Boulevard), is an adjacent project. It
adjoins TIP Project No. U-3405 at the intersection of NC 275. This intersection has many
concerns, many of which were discussed at the meeting. However, the intersection is proposed
to be improved as part of project U-2408 which is scheduled for construction about one year
ahead of project U-3405.

The project is expected to have many utility conflicts. John Taylor stated that
underground fiber optics cables exist between the road and railroad, and that underground water
and gas lines are present on the opposite side of the roadway.
To reduce congestion during the project's construction, time limits may be required due to
the shift work at the industries located along the project.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical widening will both be considered during the design of the
project. Symmetric widening is the preferred alternative and will be used where possible.
However, asymmetric widening will be used to avoid impacts to the existing rail corridor and
impacts to existing properties.
The cross section for the project presented at the meeting was a five-lane, 64 foot, curb
and gutter facility. The Bicycle Unit recommended a five-lane, 68 foot, curb and gutter facility,
which would allow for 14-foot wide outside lanes to accommodate bicyclists. Both Bob Cooke
and Chris Bartelson also asked that we consider the wider cross section to include bike lanes. It
was pointed out that project U-2408, which adjoins this project, has no bicycle accommodations
planned and that bike lanes should be constructed on both projects or not at all. Since a public
hearing was held on project U-2408 recently, it was determined it may not be too late to
incorporate the bike lanes. Bob Deaton indicated the Bicycle Unit would recommend the wider
cross section for project U-2408. After the meeting, the bicycle accommodations were discussed
with Roadway from a design standpoint and with Program Development from a cost prospective.
The wider cross section will be discussed at the post hearing meeting and a final decision will be
made about including bike lanes on both projects.
Chris Bartelson commented on the development in the area currently underway. An
industrial park is proposed at the western project limit, which will not be affected by the
proposed widening. Construction is in progress for the First Carolina Bank, which is on NC 274.
However, Chris called them after the meeting and they indicated they were aware of the
proposed project.
It was noted in the scoping sheets that no new signals are proposed. However the
existing signal at NC 274 and Maine Avenue will be upgraded. Improvements to the signal at
NC 274 and NC 275 will be included in project U-2408.
Chris Bartelson requested sidewalks on both sides of the roadway within the Bessemer
City limits. Based on request from the City of Gastonia and Bessemer City, sidewalks will be
proposed on both sides of the project. Cost estimates will be furnished to the cities when
available.
A Citizen Informational Workshop is planned for May 1999. Functional plans are to be
provided in May 2000 by Roadway Design.
With no further issues to be discussed, the meeting was adjourned.
State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
3 s James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
MEMORANDUM
April 20, 1999
4r?

TO: Melba McGee
DENR SEPA Coordinator
FROM: Gloria Putnam __%R
DWQ SEPA Coordinator
RE: Comments on DOT Scoping Sheets, DWQ# 12392
Proposed Improvemnts to NC 274 (Gastonia Highway)
State Project No. 8.1811501, TIP Porject No. U-3405
Gaston County
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) requests that the following topics be
discussed in the environmental review document (s):
A. Identify the streams potentially impacted by the project. The current stream
classifications and use support ratings for these streams should be included. This
information is available from DWQ through the following contacts:
Liz Kovasckitz - Classifications - 919-733-5083, ext. 572
Andrea Leslie - Use Support Ratings - 919-733-5083, ext. 577
B . Identify the linear feet of stream chann-elization/relocations.- If the original stream
banks were vegetated, it is requested that the channelized/relocated stream banks be
revegetated.
C. Identify the number and locations of all proposed stream crossings.
D. Will permanent spill catch basins be utilized? DWQ requests that these catch basins
be placed at all water supply stream crossings. Identify the responsible party for
maintenance.
E. Identify the stormwater controls (permanent and temporary) that will be used.
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post-consumer paper

o

F. Please ensure that sediment and erosion control measures are not placed in
wetlands.
G . Wetland Impacts
i) Identify the federal manual used for identifying and delineating jurisdictional
wetlands.
ii) Have wetlands been avoided as much as possible?
iii) Have wetland impacts been minimized?
iv) Mitigation measures to compensate for habitat losses.
V) Wetland impacts by plant communities affected.
vi) Quality of wetlands impacted.
vii) Total wetland impacts.
viii) List the 401 General Certification numbers requested from DWQ.
H . Borrow/waste areas should avoid wetlands to the maximum extent practicable.
Prior to the approval of any borrow/waste site in a wetland, the contractor shall
obtain a 401 Certification from DWQ.
Please provide a conceptual wetland mitigation plan to help the environmental
review. The mitigation plan may state the following:
1. Compensatory mitigation will be considered only after wetland impacts have
been avoided and minimized to the maximum extent possible.
2. On-site, in-kind mitigation is the preferred method of mitigation. In-kind
mitigation within the same watershed is preferred over out-of-kind mitigation.
3. Mitigation should be in the following order: restoration, creation, enhancement,
and lastly preservation.
J . The EA should discuss in detail project alternatives that alleviate traffic problems
without road widening, such as mass transit and traffic congestion management
techniques.
DWQ is also concerned about secondary wetland impacts. For DWQ to concur
with an alternative in the mountains or the piedmont, DOT will need to commit to full
control of access to the wetland parcels or DOT to purchase these parcels for wetland
mitigation.
Written concurrence of 401 Water Quality Certification may be required for this
project. Applications requesting coverage under our General Certification 14 or General
Permit 31 (with wetland impact) will require written concurrence. Please be aware that 401
Certification may be denied if wetland or water impacts have not been avoided and
minimized to the maximum extent practicable.
Please have the applicant call John Hennessy at 919-733-1786 if they have any
questions on these comments.
cc: John Hennessy - DWQ- ESB, Ecological Assessment Group
mek:\12392; NCDOT Scoping