20201196 Ver 1_R-5737 Cover letter_20201028

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER J. ERIC BOYETTE
GOVERNOR SECRETARY

Mailing Address:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DIVISION 9
375 SILAS CREEK PARKWAY
WINSTON SALEM, NC 27127
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968

Website: ncdot.gov
Location:
375 SILAS CREEK PARKWAY
WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27127

October 6, 2020

Mr. Eric Alysmeyer
USACE Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Wake Forest, NC 27587

Subject: Pre-Construction Notification for proposed conversion of the US 29/US 70/
Business 85 at SR 1798 (Old Greensboro Road) at grade intersection to an
interchange in Davidson County. TIP R-5737. WBS No. 50195.1.1.

Dear Mr. Alysmeyer:

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to convert the existing at
grade intersection of US 29/US 70/Business 85 at SR 1798 (Old Greensboro Road) to an
interchange. The interchange will be comprised of a compressed elongated roundabout with three
roundabouts. The design consolidates the existing intersections of the Davidson Community
College Road at Caldcleugh Road and Caldcleugh Road at Old Greensboro Road into one
roundabout. Old Greensboro Road will go under US 29-70. On/off ramps will be provided in
combination with an elongated roundabout. The intersection of Old Greensboro Road at S. Old
Greensboro Road will be converted into a roundabout. This is a state funded project and is
currently scheduled to Let in April 2021.

The purpose of the project is to eliminate crossings conflicts, improve operational efficiencies and
enhance safety by converting the existing at-grade intersection to an interchange. The need for
the project results from projected traffic volumes to increase 11 to 13 percent by 2040. Existing
congestion at the intersection is frequent during the am and pm peak hours. This congestion has
resulted in 9 crashes over a five-year period (8/1/12 to 7/31/17).

Alternatives analysis

Two alternatives were considered for the proposed project. In both alternatives, the
existing median crossover at the intersection of US 29-70 and Old Highway
29/Caldcleugh Road was to be closed and traffic restricted to right turn movements only,
when construction of the interchange project was completed. Due to public input and
further review, the median crossover will remain as it is currently.

Alternative 1 included roundabouts on both sides of the interchange, with Old
Greensboro Road (SR 1798) elevated over US 29-70. Alternative 2 elevated US 29-70

over Old Greensboro Road (SR 1798) with entrance/exit access to the highway provided
via an elongated roundabout underneath the bridge crossing.

Alternatives 1 and 2 were presented to the public and local officials in a meeting in June
2017. Maps from the meeting are included in the application for reference. The majority
of the attendees preferred alternative 2. As you can see in the attached Public Meeting
Map for Alternate 1, Wetland WD and WE (as labeled in the PJD package) would have
been impacted; however, stream SB and WB would have been avoided. Impacts to
wetlands WD and WE would have been approximately 0.3 acres. In Alternative 2,
impacts to wetlands WD and WE were greatly reduced (0.03 permanent impacts and 0.05
temporary impacts-permit site 1) and stream SB is impacted (111’ permanent fill and 12’
of bank stabilization-permit site 5) and Wetland C is impacted (less than 0.01 acres-
permit site 5). Impacts along US 29-70 were the same with both alternatives. No
residential and one possible business relocation are anticipated with either alternative.
With less overall wetland impacts, slightly higher stream impacts, and public preference,
Alternative 2 is the preferred alternative.

Threatened and Endangered species

USFWS lists Schweinitz’s sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii) as endangered for Davidson
County. The project was surveyed for sunflowers during the optimal survey window on October
3, 2017. No Schweinitz’s sunflowers were observed in the study area. A review of NHP records
on June 22, 2018 indicates no known occurrences within 1.0 mile of the study area. It was
determined that the project had no effect on Schweinitz’s sunflower.

The northern long eared bat is listed as threatened for Davidson County. Habitat for the NLEB
was observed within the study area, including stands of live and dead trees, abandoned barns,
sheds, old buildings, and bridges within forested hillsides and ridges and tree-lined corridors. A
review of NHP records on June 22, 2018 indicates no know occurrences within 10.0 mile of the
study area. NCDOT believes situation 1 of the SLOPES applies to the project. The
determination is ‘may affect, not likely to adversely affect’.

Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act

There are no bodies of water large enough to support eagles. Therefore, no surveys were
completed, and it was determined that there would be ‘no effect’ on the eagle.

Cultural Resources

NCDOT Cultural Resource staff reviewed the project study area for Archeological and Historical
Architectural resources. It was determined that the project would have no effect on either
Historic Architecture or archeology. There was an eligible structure for the National Register of
Historic Places under Criterion C. Once 15% design plans were reviewed by our cultural
resource staff, it was determined that there would be no direct impact to the property or the
structure; therefore, a ‘no historic properties present or affected’ form was issued.

Impaired Waters

Rich Fork Creek is on the 2018 Final 303d list for poor fish community. Also, both Abbotts
Creek and Rich Fork Creek are on the 2018 Final 303d list for Mercury.

Critical Area

A portion of the project drains to waters classified as the Critical Area (Abbotts Creek
(WSIII;CA; Stream index no. 12-119-(4.5)). There are no stream or wetland crossings in the
Critical Area or within 0.5 miles and draining to the Critical Area, so the project did not qualify
for hazardous spill basins under NCDOT Hydraulic guidelines.

Avoidance and Minimization in Design

The project has implemented NCDOT’s Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds for the portion
of the project that drains to waters defined as the Critical Area. There are no impacts to streams
or wetlands in the Critical Area; however, construction drainage will discharge into the
watershed.

At site 5, the inlet of the pipe is to be placed in a wetland. To reduce the risk of head cutting in
the wetland, the pipe will be laid at grade.

At site 3, the stream starts at the existing pipe outlet, and is currently perched. There is a very
unstable bank along the right side of the stream in the vicinity of the pipe outlet. The perch will
be corrected by utilizing a junction box. The area draining to the existing pipe is mostly
impervious coming from Davidson County Community College and existing US29/70, so aquatic
passage will not be affected by the junction box. The stream bed and banks at the outlet have
been armored for velocity control.

Impacts for erosion control measures have been minimized as much as possible. At permit sites
1A, 1B, and 2, there will be minimal wetland impacts for mechanized clearing for installation of
skimmer basins. Due to the steep topography, we could not eliminate impacts to the wetlands and
provide adequate erosion control measures.

Mitigation

NCDOT is providing mitigation through the Division of Mitigation Services (NCDMA) for
unavoidable impacts to 354’ linear feet of stream impacts at a 2:1 ratio. A copy of the acceptance
letter from NCDMS is included in the electronic Preconstruction Notification (ePCN).

See attached Mitigation Approval Letter from NCDMS dated September 17, 2020.

Please see the submitted electronic PCN application for the accompanying documentation for this
project.

Regulatory Approvals

Section 404 Permit: The NCDOT requests written authorization for a Nationwide 14. Section 401
Permit: The NCDOT requests written authorization from NCDWR. NCDWR can debit the
permit application fee of $570 from WBS No. 50195.1.1.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at [phone] or
at [e-mail].

Sincerely,

Amy Euliss
Division Environmental Officer, NCDOT Division 9

Cc: Matt Jones, PE, NCDOT Division 9 Project Manager
Dave Wanucha, NCDWR
Beth Harmon, NCDMS