20170269 Ver 1_Scoping Comments_20120215

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA FEB 1
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTAi 1 ?01?
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE 4t476WE A CONTI JR
GOVERNOR TARY
February 13 2012
Memorandum To Mr David Wainwright
NC Division of Water Quality
From Gregory IP Manager o J Thorpe PhD Mana
g g
Project Development and Environmental al sis Unit
Subject Scoping Meeting for Proposed MCAS Cherry Point Improved
Highway Intersection (US 70 at Slocum Road) in Havelock
Craven County Federal Aid Project No NHS 0070(154)
WBS No 45492 1 1 TIP Project R 5516
The Project Development and Environmental Analysis Unit has started the project
development environmental and engineering studies for the subject project The project
is included in the North Carolina Department of Transportation s 2012 2012 State
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and is currently funded for planning and
environmental studies only A Scoping Meeting has been scheduled on February 23 2012
at 10 AM and will be held in the Project Development and Environmental Analysis large
conference room located in NCDOT Century Center Building B
Attached for your review is the Project Data Sheets and mapping for the subject
project We would appreciate any information you might have that would be helpful in
evaluating the potential environmental impacts of the project Please review the packet
and be prepared to discuss any additional known information regarding your resource and
comments or questions about the project at the Scoping Meeting
Thank you for your assistance in the project development process If you have any
questions concerning the project or the Project Data Sheets please contact Matthew
Potter PE Project Development Engineer at [phone] or by email at
mwpotterkncdot og_v Please include the TIP Project Number in all correspondence and
comments
GJT /mwp
Attachments
MAILING ADDRESS
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699 1548
TELEPHONE [phone]
FAX [phone]
WEBSITE WWW NCDOT ORG /DOH /PRECONSTRUCT /PE/
LOCATION
TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET
RALEIGH NC 27601

6
PROJECT DATA SHEET
Date 2/10/12
Rev
TIP No R 5516
County Craven
Federal aid No NHS 0070(154)
WBS No 45492 1 1
NCDOT Division 2
Scoping Meeting Date 2/23/12
Project Description
• Length N/A
• Termini (US Hwy /SR) US 70 and Slocum Road
• MPO /RPO Down East RPO
• NEPA/404 Merger Candidate? ❑ Yes ❑ No ® Unknown
• General Description of Project
The proposed project will consider improvements to the intersection of US 70 and Slocum Road in
Havelock Craven County (see Figure 1) As a part of the intersection improvements access to
neighboring development (MacDonald Boulevard) is likely to be relocated to the north and tied into Pine
Grove Road (see Figure 2a) This relocation would require approximately 5 miles of new location
roadway
Design Data (Existing Conditions)
• Functional Classification US 70 — Principal Arterial
• Strategic Highway Corridor Yes US 70 (Raleigh to Morehead City is Corridor 46 of 55)
• CTP Designation (Facility Type) N/A — CTP not adopted by the City of Havelock
• Type of Access Control Partial on US 70
• Typical Section 4 lane median divided highway (US 70)
• Right of Way varies
• Posted Speed (US 70) 55 mph northwest of Slocum Road / 50 mph southeast of Slocum Road
• Structure Inventory (bridges RCBC Walls etc)
There are no bridges in the project area
• Other TIP Proiects in the Area
R 1015 — Bypass alternatives depart existing US 70 at a point northwest of the existing US
70 intersection with Pine Grove Road The bypass ties into existing US 70 south of
McCotter Boulevard on the south side of Havelock A four lane freeway is proposed with
interchanges at each end with existing US 70 and an additional interchange at Lake Road
• Railroad Involvement
North Carolina Railroad runs along the west side of US 70 Previously studied alternatives
avoided impacting the railroad right of way by incorporating retaining walls Similar
considerations should be made

a
Lone Range Plan History
• 1977 Most recent thoroughfare plan adopted by the City of Havelock
• September 2008 Master Plan for MCAS Cherry Point
• July 2009 City of Havelock adopted a Sidewalk Plan
• October 2009 Final Feasibility Study and Environmental Screenin
Traffic Data (AADT)
Slocum Rd US 70 US 70
(no Havelock Bva ) (with Havelock Bvo )
Current Year
2008
11 000
2560033100
25 600 33 100
(vpd
$5 275 000
$17 675 000
Alternative 3
$19 400 000
Design Year
2035
22 000
4410057900
2930040300
(v d
Current Estimate (2012)
N /A*
N /A*
N /A*
Source of Traffic Data
I NCDOT
Cost Estimates
Construction Right of Way Total
Alternative 1
$7 200 000
$1 750 000
$8 950 000
Alternative 2
$12 400 000
$5 275 000
$17 675 000
Alternative 3
$19 400 000
$6 650 000
$26 050 000
Alternative 4
$19 800 000
$6 650 000
$26 450 000
Current Estimate (2012)
N /A*
N /A*
N /A*
not yet avaiiame
Project Schedule
Environmental Document
CE
November
2013
Right of Way
Post Year
Let
Post Year
Initial Scoping Comments

Purpose and Need Data
Draft Project Need
Slocum Road currently serves as the back gate for MCAS Cherry Point particularly
for support personnel commuting to work from New Bern and other points northwest
of the study area However plans are to make this a primary entrance It is
expected the existing intersection of US 70 and Slocum will not be able to
accommodate future traffic volumes and large queues are anticipated to form
Draft Project Purpose
The purpose of the proposed project is to improve operations at US 70 and Slocum
Road by addressing capacity deficiencies and queuing issues associated with access
to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point via Slocum Road
Alternatives Data
Design Data (Proposed Conditions)
• CTP Designation (Facility Type) N/A — CTP not adopted by the City of Havelock
• Type of Access Control Partial on US 70
• Typical Section 4 lane median divided highway (US 70)
• Right of Way varies
• Posted Speed (US 70) 55 mph northwest of Slocum Road / 50 mph southeast of Slocum Road

I ne toiiowIna Inival alternatives nave been developed by NcuU I
In the 2009 NCDOT Feasibility Study of this project, Alternative 2 was chosen as
the recommended alternative
Alternative 2 (Preferred) Flyover (see Figures 2a and 2b) Alternative 2 would convert the
intersection of US 70 and Pine Grove Road to a left out superstreet In addition a third
westbound US 70 through lane could be developed dust prior to the Pine Grove Road
intersection Currently preliminary plans for the US 70 Havelock Bypass show a third lane on
US 70 being developed dust northwest of the intersection At Slocum Road a flyover ramp
would be constructed to serve traffic moving from eastbound US 70 onto Slocum Road which
would accommodate the heavy AM peak hour traffic movement The flyover lane could be a
cont____i= i_Qrio.Lthe_ramn from the US 70 Havelock Bypass project that currently is proposed
to taper down just northwest of the US 70 / Pine Grove intersection This would help enhance
the operation of the Pine Grove oa jn ersec ion A free flow ramp from westbound US 70
onto Slocum Road is also proposed under this alternative Left turn movements out of
Slocum Road would be accommodated and controlled by a two phase traffic signal Double
left turns would be required for traffic moving from Slocum Road onto eastbound US 70
Slocum Road would be widened to four lanes up to a point dust west of the existing gate
MacDonald Boulevard Relocation All 4 alternatives recommend the relocation of
MacDonald Boulevard The intersection of MacDonald Boulevard and US 70 will be
relocated The location of the existing intersection conflicts with the heavy right turns off of
Slocum Road and creates a traffic weave To relocate the intersection a connector is
proposed to connect the neighborhood to Pine Grove Road Additionally in order to improve
operations at the US 70 / Pine Grove Road intersection Sermons Road and Pine Grove
Road are realigned to intersect further back from the US 70 / Pine Grove Road Intersection
Three other alternatives (Alternatives 1 3 and 4) were considered during the evaluation in
the October 2009 Feasibility Study They are described briefly below
Alternative 1 — Super street Alternative 1 would convert existing US 70 s full movement
intersections with Pine Grove Road and Slocum Road to super street intersections
Alternative 3 — Tight Diamond Interchange Alternative 3 would provide a tight diamond
interchange at US 70 and Slocum Road The alternative would provide a new interchange
with the proposed US 70 Havelock Bypass
Alternative 4 — Single Point Urban Diamond with Connector Alternative 4 would provide
a single point diamond interchange at US 70 and Slocum Road and would provide a new
interchange with the proposed US 70 Havelock Bypass

AGENDA
e�'c,
n
US 70 and Slocum Road (STIP No R -5516)
NCDOT Century Center Building B — Large Conference Room
February 23, 2012
1 Introductions / Presentations of Materials
2 Feasibility Study
a Purpose and Need
1 Plans and Initiatives
ii Crash Information
iii Traffic Forecasts / Capacity Analysis
b Alternatives Considered
i Alternative 2 — Flyover (Preferred)
c Environmental Considerations / Issues
d Recommendations from Feasibility Study
3 Presentation of Project Data Sheet
4 Upcoming Work
a Citizens Informational Workshop
o Public Officials' Meeting
b Environmental Input Request Package
c Traffic Forecast
o Trend Analysis
d Capacity Analysis
e Community Characteristics Report
5 Schedule
6 Open Items and Discussion

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
Gordon Myers Executive Director
MEMORANDUM
TO Melba McGee
Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, DENR
FROM Travis Wilson Highway Project Coordinator -- ��
Habitat Conservation Program
DATE February 27 2012
SUBJECT North Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT) Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed Mid- Currituck Bridge in Currituck
County North Carolina TIP No R -2576 SCH Project No 12 -0182
Staff biologists with the N C Wildlife Resources Commission have reviewed the subject
FEIS and are familiar with habitat values in the project area The purpose of this review was to
assess project impacts to fish and wildlife resources Our comments are provided in accordance
with certain provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U S C 4332(2)(c)) and the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (48 Stat 401, as amended, 16 U S C 661 -667d)
NCDOT is proposing transportation improvements in the Currituck Sound area including
the construction of anew bridge crossing of the Currituck Sound WRC is a participating agency
in the coordination and planning of this project and comments provided in conjunction with this
process have been documented However the impacts associated with the preferred alternative
are substantial and continued efforts to avoid and minimize impacts arc necessary The
following comments identify specific items of concern
® Maple Swamp Crossing The NCTA preferred alternative commits to bridging the
majority of Maple Swamp To further assure this structure will provide effective
wildlife passage a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet should be provided
® Mitigation for impacts to Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Generally in -kind
mitigation for SAV impacts has been the preferred method to replace lost SAV functions
However, coordination of appropriate site selection methodology, and success criteria
Mailing Address Division of Inland 1 isheries 1721 Mail Service Center Raleigh NC 27699 1721
Telephone [phone] • Fax [phone]

R 2576 Page 2 February 27 2012
are essential and often challenging, therefore as soon as it is feasible we recommend
NCTA organize a meeting with appropriate agency representatives to begin discussions
on this issue
® WRC supports the implementation of avoidance and minimization measures included in
the document, specifically
o No dredging in any part of Cumtuck Sound
o No betting of piles
o Use of turbidity curtains for pile installation to SAV habitat
o An in water work moratorium of February 15 to September 30 in SAV habitat as
defined by NCDMF
o Use of an open deck work trestle over SAV habitat
Thank you for the opportunity to comment If we can be of further assistance please call me
at [phone]
cc Gary Jordan USFWS
David Wainwright DWQ
Bill Biddlecome, USACE
Chris Mil►tscher, USEPA
Cathy Br►tt►ngham DCM
Ron Sechler NMFS
Kevin Hart, NCDMF

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Legend
/{
Begin Study Area
PINE GROVE{RD d,
SLOGAN RD y
S2
W
x
0
J
W
Z
W
W
Study Area
Proposed Havelock Bypass
Roads
Croatan National Forest
MCAS Cherry Point
Havelock Municipal Limits
l
Slocum Gate
h
— End Study Area
1
fY 1A
Vi
Nellse
'River
qq9k -Apr
— Main G to
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MILLE BL FONTANABLVD
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C101
HAVELOCK
3 70
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-------- - - - - --
CARTERET
COUNTY
Vicinity Map
IJy�j' Improved Highway Intersection
�j r� { i ��� (US Highway 70 and Slocum Road)
r
Havelock, North Carolina
MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina
0 0.5 1 Date Figure
1 i I 02-12 ``
Miles