20150362 Ver 1_Emails_20130108

FW: I -3802, CP 2 Revision Jan 16, 2013
FW: I -3802, CP 2 Revision Jan 16, 2013
Page 1 of 2
Chapman, Amy
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 8:33 AM
To: Carrillo, Sonia
Attachments: I -3802 DEB Memo for Merger— l.doc(115 KB) ; I -3802 CP2 Concurience For -1.doc (31 KB) ; Fig 1 DEB—slip ramp_
figur -1.pdf (1 MB) ; Fig 2 DEB elongated loop_ —I.pdf (8 MB)
Amy Chapman, Supervisor
Transportation Permitting Unit
NCDENR / Division of Water Quality
-Wetlands and Stormwater Branch
1650 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 -1650
Office: (919) 807 -6365 - Fax: [phone]
Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be
disclosed to third parties.
From: Mundt, Leza W
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 8:12 AM
To: Michael.Batuzich @dot.gov; Thomas, John T JR SAW ( John .T.Thomas.JR @usace.army.mil);
sarah.e.hair @usace.army.mil; marella_buncick @fws.gov; Militscher .Chris @epamail.epa.gov; Chapman, Amy;
Johnson, Alan; Gledhill - earley, Renee; pconrad @mblsolution.com; Houser, Anthony A; Teague, Jeffrey L; Ivey,
Stephen P; Mitchell, Louis L; Raulston, Keith E; Allen, Raymond S; Morgan, Stephen R; Bailey, Mack; Stanley,
Mike; Staley, Mark K; Argabright, Van; Pridemore, Virgil R; Ishak, Doumit Y; Dunlop, James H; Beauregard,
Rachelle; Dagnino, Carla S; pconrad @mblsolution.com; Nicole Bennett; Johnny Banks
Cc: Weaver, Derrick G
Subject: I -3802, CP 2 Revision Jan 16, 2013
Good morning,
1 -3802 involves widening 1 -85 and improving interchanges in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties.
As the attached memo explains, concurrence with CP 2 was obtained in 2010 for the referenced project. CP 2
involved the mainline widening as well as interchange design concepts. As design progressed, the interchange
design concept for Dale Earnhardt Blvd proved to be problematic. Another concept was developed and design
work shows it to be superior to the previous concept.
Therefore, we ask to revisit CP 2 to amend concurrence to include the new design concept.
We will only address this revision at the meeting on the 16th. CP 2A and 3 will be addressed in coming months.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Leza
Leza Wright Mundt
Project Planning Engineer
Project Development & Environmental Analysis Unit
https:Hmail.nc.gov /owa/ ?ae= Item &t = IPM. Note& id= RgAAAADMSzLcd9 W2TJHI4 %2bm... 2/4/2013

FW: I -3802, CP 2 Revision Jan 16, 2013
NCDOT
919.707.6032
Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties
Page 2 of 2
https:/ /mail. nc. gov /owa/ ?ae= Item &t = IPM. Note& id= RgAAAADMSzLcd9 W2TJHI4 %2bm... 2/4/2013

STATE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
GOVERNOR
Memorandum
To: I- 3802/I- 3610/13-5365 Merger Team
From: Leza Wright Mundt'
Project Development Engineer
Date: January 3, 2013
EUGENE A. CONTI, JR.
SECRETARY
Subject: Revision to CP 2:1-85 Widening and Interchange Improvements from NC 73 to the
US 29 -601 Connector, Cabarrus and Rowan Counties
WBS Element Number 36780.1.2
Federal Aid Project Number FANHIMF- 085 - 2(61)55
TIP Project I- 3802/I- 3610/B -5365
On December 16, 2010, the NEPA /Section 404 Interagency Merger Team met and concurred on
the subject project's Purpose and Need and Study Area (CP1) and Design Options for Detailed
Study (CP2). In addition to widening I -85, the design options included interchange configurations
for five interchanges in the study area: I -85 at US 29 -601, I -85 at Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, I -85 at
Lane Street, I -85 at NC 152, and the US 29 -601 Connector at NC 152.
The purpose of this memo is to present and explain a change to the proposed interchange design at
Dale Earnhardt Boulevard.
The following description of the recommended Dale Earnhardt Blvd interchange design concept
was presented at the December 2010 meeting:
The current interchange design at Dale Earnhardt Boulevard is a folded diamond. The 2035 No Build
Condition: capacity analysis shows that the trafc demand at the ramp termini intersections would exceed the
roadway capacity limits during both the AM and PM peak bours. The capacity analysis also indicated that
improvements are needed at the ramps (freeway merge and diverge areas) to accommodate the anticipated future
growth in this area. Based on the design sketch planning exercise, the following three interchange concepts were
developed for this location:
MAILING ADDRESS:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROADWAY DESIGN UNIT
1582 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699 -1582
TELEPHONE: [phone]
FAX 919 - 250 -4036
WEBSITE: WWW.NCDOT.ORG
LOCATION:
CENTURY CENTER COMPLEX
BUILDINGA
1000 BIRCH RIDGE DRIVE
- RALEIGH NC

Memorandum to I -85 Merger Team (CP 2)
January 3, 2013
Page 1
• Improved Folded Diamond
• Half Cloverleaf
• Improved Diamond with Slip Ramp
The tier analysis results indicate that the peak hour trafc demand along the I -85 mainline would flow similarly
under any of these three interchange configurations. The peak hour intersection capacity analysis indicated that the
Improved Diamond with Slip Ramp configuration has the best traffic operations with minimal environmental and
right of way impacts. Under this configuration, the southbound and northbound ramp termini intersections along
Dale Earnhardt Boulevard would operate at LOS E and C, respectively, duringpeak hours. This configuration
would require adding a new slip ramp in the southwest quadrant of the interchange and one additional lane to the
existing Dale Earnhardt Boulevard bridge over I -85. This configuration would not require a new bridge.
It should be noted that the traffic demand at both ramp termini intersections for the Improved Folded Diamond
and Half Cloverleaf would flow at Level of Service D or better throughout the day. However, both of these
configurations would require relocating the southbound ramp termini intersection further west, which would cause
substantially more impacts to businesses adjacent to Dale Earnhardt Boulevard west of I -85. They also would
require replacing the existing bridge with a wider and longer structure to accommodate additional auxiliary lanes
along the I -85 mainline and additional lanes along Dale Earnhardt Boulevard. Impacts to the natural
environment are expected to be minor with any of the configurations because the area is mostly built out. Two
unnamed tributaries and a small associated wetland may be affected by the reconstruction of the interchange.
Based on the analysis, the Improved Diamond with Slip Ramp interchange configuration i's recommended for this
location. This design is shown on Figure 1.
In addition, Dale Earnhardt Boulevard is proposed to be widened between Denwood Street and Vinehaven Drive
to accommodate the additional trafc forecasted for this area.
Since the December 2010 NEPA /Section 404 Merger meeting, design work began on the Improved
Diamond with Slip Ramp configuration. This revealed that the southbound I -85 ramps would
experience queues greater than 1,000 feet, which would result in traffic backing up onto the I -85
mainline. It was also determined a slip ramp would create a very short weave area (1,000 ft) where
merging traffic from the slip ramp would conflict with I -85 southbound traffic exiting to the rest
area. The potential spillback onto I -85 and the short weaving area are of particular concern to
federal and state representatives involved with the project.
Expansion of the existing loop is problematic because of its substandard design; preventing the
addition of another lane in the loop. Additionally, a two -lane loop would likely require replacing the
Dale Earnhardt Blvd.bridge over I -85 at a cost of several million dollars. Therefore, additional
interchange configurations were investigated.
Because of the limitations associated with expanding the existing interchange, one option considered
building new ramps to and from I -85 southbound using Jaycee Road (a dead -end road between
Lowe's Home Improvement store and a residential subdivision) as the new ramp right of way.
Additional traffic analysis of this design, referred to as an "elongated loop," indicates a three -leg
intersection for the elongated loop would operate with better levels of service than the "slip ramp"
scenario, without queue spillback onto I -85, and without the short weaving area between this
interchange and the rest area.

Memorandum to 1-85 Merger Team (CP 2)
January 3, 2013
Page 2
The Dale Earnhardt Boulevard interchange "elongated loop" scenario provides adequate traffic
operations on the ramps and decreases the likelihood of traffic backing up onto 1-85. This reduces
the probability that future improvements to the interchange area would be needed during the design
life of the project. Therefore, the "elongated loop" configuration (see Figure 2) was recommended
instead of the improved diamond with slip ramp configuration for preliminary design and evaluation
in the environmental document.
Tables 1 and 2 show a comparison of stream and wedandimpacts for the two interchange designs.
These are shown on Figure 3. The elongated loop configuration affects approximately 300 linear
feet of streams more than the slip ramp configuration. These additional impacts occur primarily in
the northeast quadrant of the interchange, where the proposed new ramp would be constructed.
Wetland impacts are the same with either configuration.
Table 1. Approximate Stream Impacts at Dale Earnhardt Boulevard Interchange
Table 2. Wetland Impacts at Dale Earnhardt Boulevard Interchange
IVY�
S ea
0:-,
tk
00 P,
SCX (UT Cold Water Creek)
WCX
SD-1 (UT Cold Water Creek)
91
108
SDA (UT Cold Water Creek)
87
87
SDBA (UT Cold Water Creek)
168
152
SDBAA (UT Cold Water Creek)
123
122
SE (Cold Water Creek)
128
128
SEA (UT Cold Water Creek)
105
193
SEAR (UT Cold Water Creek)
-
56
SEB T Cold Water Creek)
352
382
SED (UT Cold Water Creek)
139
139
Total Stream Impacts
1,193
1,478
Table 2. Wetland Impacts at Dale Earnhardt Boulevard Interchange
IVY�
0:-,
WCX
<0.01
Wp
0.04
0.04
WQ
0.07
0.08
WR
0.01
0.01
WU
0.03
0.03
Total Wetland Impacts
0.15
0.16

Section 404 /NEPA Interagency Agreement
Concurrence Point No. 2
Design Options for Detailed Study
Project Title: I -85 Widening and Interchange Improvements from North of NC 73 to US
29 -601 Connector; Rowan and Cabarrus Counties; TIP Project Numbers 1- 3802/I -3610;
Federal Project Number FANHIMF- 085 - 2(61)55; WBS Number 36780.1.1
Design Option for the Dale Earnhardt Blvd Interchange with I -85:
Reconstruct the existing folded diamond with loop interchange to an improved folded
diamond with an elongated loop.
The project team has concurred on this day, January 16, 2013, with this design option for
study in detail for the proposed project as indicated above.
USACE FHWA
USEPA NCDOT
USFWS NCDCR
NCDWQ NCWRC
CRMPO