20051491 Ver 1_Complete File_20050802

N. C. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TRANSMITTAL SLIP DATE
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ,
MICHAEL F. EASLEY
GOVERNOR
August 1, 2005
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Raleigh Regulatory Field Office
6508 Falls of the Neuse Road, Suite 120 20 05 14 0 1
Raleigh, NC 27609

0l) d'-r 4X ?{s 14-
Attention: Mr. Eric Alsmeyer, NCDOT Coordinator /I.-? N
J W
Subject: Proposed replacement of Bridge No. 460 over Big Branch on SR 1154
(Woods Creek Road) in Wake County; NC Moving Ahead Bridge
Replacement Program, Division 5, NCDOT Project # MA05015B, WBS
Element 37660.
PROJECT LOCATION
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace Bridge
No. 460 over Big Branch on SR 1154 (Woods Creek Road) in Wake County. This project
is located northwest of Holly Springs and is within the Cape Fear River Basin. The site
coordinates are: 35.6772°N, 78.8755°W. Bridge No. 460 crosses a perennial surface
water, Big Branch, [NCDENR-DWQ Index No. 18-7-6-1, Best Usage Classification C;
HUC 03030003].
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Bridge No. 460, which is 40 ft long and 20 ft wide, will be replaced in the same location
with a bridge that is 87 ft long and 27 ft wide. The purpose of the project is to improve
safety on SR 1154 by reducing the potential for accidents since the proposed replacement
bridge will be of greater structural integrity. The existing bridge consists of a single span
timber and steel superstructure supported by wood beam end bents. The new structure
will consist of a 2 span cored-slab concrete bridge (1@ 30 ft and 1@ 50 ft) with a single
span steel girder and will be constructed using drilled shafts at the interior bent and steel
piles at the end bents.
No temporary causeway is necessary with this project and no utility related impacts are
anticipated. The middle bridge pier will be located outside of the stream at the top of the
west bank and the new abutments will be offset from the top of the stream banks. SR
1154 will be closed during construction. The project proposes a combination of
asymmetrical and symmetrical widening improvements along the approaches. The
existing approaches will be graded down to meet the grade of the new bridge. Class 'B'
rip-rap will be placed along the new bridge approaches without placing rip rap along the
existing top-of-bank of Big Branch. There are no jurisdictional wetlands within the
LYNDO TIPPETT
SECRETARY
N Icl
Division 5, 2612 N. Duke Street, Durham, NC 27704
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

project limits. Removal of the existing bridge and construction of the replacement bridge
will not result in any impacts to Big Branch.
RIPARIAN BUFFERS
The project is located in the Cape Fear River Basin. Therefore, construction will be
completed without impacts to protected riparian buffers.
WATERS OF THE U.S. MITIGATION
Avoidance: The proposed bridge replacement project completely avoids impacts to Big
Branch. The proposed replacement structure over Big Branch will not have piers, bents,
or footings in the stream and will not have deck drains.
Minimization: The construction of this project has minimized the extent of the built-upon
area by using the existing alignment for new construction. NCDOT will implement best
management practices for the protection of surface waters in accordance with the most
recent version of the "North Carolina Sediment and Erosion Control Planning and Design
Manual" during design and construction phases of the project.
Compensation: The proposed bridge replacement project completely avoids impacts to
Big Branch stream; therefore, no impacts of jurisdictional "Waters of the United States"
are anticipated and no compensatory mitigation is offered.
NEPA DOCUMENT STATUS
A Minimum Criteria Determination Checklist, which determines whether the NCDOT is
required to prepare environmental documents for state-funded construction and
maintenance projects, has been prepared and submitted February 2005. Based on the
checklist, the proposed project qualifies as a Minimum Criteria project; and therefore, the
preparation of an environmental document is not required.
CULTURAL RESOURCES
The project site was reviewed by the Project Development and Environmental Analysis
Branch of NCDOT for cultural resources. The preliminary review determined that there
are no historic architecture or archaeological sites of any significance within the project
limits. No further surveys for cultural resources are required.
PROTECTED SPECIES
Plants and animals with federal classifications of Endangered, Threatened, Proposed
Endangered, and Proposed Threatened are protected under provisions of Section 7 and
Section 9 of the ESA. As of January 29, 2003, there are four federally protected species
listed for Wake County. They include bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), red-
cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterdon),
and Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii). Biological conclusions for each species are
provided below.
bald eagle May Affect - Not Likely to Adversely Affect
Habitat suitable for the bald eagle is, at best, marginal within the study area. Nests were not
observed within 1.0 mile of the project study area. Limited foraging habitat is present within
1.0 mile of the project study area; however, the habitat is fragmented. The NHP database of
rare species and unique habitats, checked on October 4, 2004, indicates no records of
occurrences in the study area or project; vicinity. Buck Engineering biologist, George
Buchholz, performed a pedestrian survey within the study area on September 29, 2004.
While no bald eagle nests or individuals were observed or recorded in or near the study area,
there is limited habitat within the project study area. Therefore, a Biological Conclusion for
the proposed project may be May Affect - Not Likely to Adversely Affect.
red-cockaded woodpecker No Effect
A search of the NCNHP database of rare species and unique habitats, conducted on October
4, 2004, indicated no records of occurrences in the project study area or project vicinity.
Buck Engineering biologist, George Buchholz, performed a pedestrian survey within the
study area on September 29, 2004. Suitable habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker is not
present within the project study area. There are no pine stands within the project study area
or vicinity. No red-cockaded woodpeckers were observed at the time of the survey and no
cavity trees were found within a 0.5 mile radius of the project study area. Therefore, No
Effect on this species from project development is anticipated.
dwarf wedge mussel No Effect
On May 26, 2004, The Catena Group conducted a freshwater mussel survey at the project site
Mussel surveys were conducted from a point approximately 1,200' downstream of the project
crossing to a point approximately 300' upstream. Based on the survey results, it is apparent
that freshwater mussels do not exist within the surveyed portion of Big Branch. Given this
lack of a mussel fauna, and the fact that the dwarf-wedge mussel has never been verified
from the Cape Fear River Basin, it can be concluded that project construction will have No
Effect on this species.
Michaux's sumac May Affect - Not Likely to Adversely Affect
A review of the NHP database on October 4, 2004, found no documented occurrences in the
project study area or within one mile of the project study area. Buck Engineering biologist,
George Buchholz, performed a pedestrian survey of the project study area on September 29,
2004. Open habitat was present in small areas along the road sides along SR 1154.
Michaux's sumac was not observed during the field surveys. Therefore, a Biological
Conclusion for the proposed project may be May Affect - Not Likely to Adversely Affect.
SUMMARY
This NC Moving Ahead project is located within the Cape Fear River Basin and proposes
no fill in surface waters or wetlands. Therefore, we are not requesting written
concurrence for this activity. By copy of this letter, within Appendix 1, we are providing
photographs of the site, a vicinity map, construction drawings, and the erosion control
plans for your records. If you have any questions or need additional information, please
contact Mr. Chris Murray at cmurra a,dot.state.nc.us or [phone].
Since ely
J G. ance, P. .
Division Engineer
cc:
Ms. Nicole Thomson, NCDWQ Mr. Travis Wilson, NCWRC
Mr. Dallie Bagwell, NCDOT Mr. Mike Kneis, DIV 5 Project Manager
Mr. Mike Summers, NCDOT Mr. Chris Murray, DIV 5 Environmental Officer
Ms. Glenda Gibson, Gibson Engineers Mr. David Simpson, Simpson Engineers
Photograph 1. View from Upstream of Bridge, looking South.
Photograph 2. View from Downstream of Bridge, looking North.
Bridge No 460 - Wake County
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VICINITY
MAP
NCDOT
DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
WAKE COUNTY
PROJECT: MA05015B (BRIDGE '1450)
BRIDGE '1460 OVER BIG
BRANCH ON SR 1156

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