20211409 Ver 1_Pre-Filing Meeting Information_20210921

U-6223 NC 42 Extension
Date 5/1/20
Subject: Wetland and Stream Impacts and Permitting Discussion
Location: Teleconference
Meeting Date/Time: 4/28/20 2:30pm

Attendees:
Rachel Evans NCDOT, Division 4
Chad Coggins NCDOT, Division 4
Addison Gainey NCDOT, Division 4
Eric Alsmeyer USACE
Rob Ridings NCDEQ
Mike Pekarek Mott MacDonald
Elise Bielen Simpson Engineers & Associates (SEA)
Martha Register Simpson Engineers & Associates

Summary:
The intent of this meeting was to touch base with Eric Alsmeyer from USACE about the estimated wetland
and stream impacts for the U-6223 project and discuss the intended Corps permitting strategy. The following
points were discussed:

- Elise shared the latest conceptual plan for the project buildout and the anticipated wetland and stream
impacts, and said that at this time a Nationwide 23 permit is anticipated to be used
o Eric indicated that given this information, a Nationwide 23 permit would likely work for this
project and noted that FHWA is involved in this project
o Eric also indicated that the merger process is not necessary for this project

- Eric inquired about whether the roadway could taper down to two lanes in the stream crossing area
o Chad explained the anticipated future buildout to a four-lane cross section, and that using a 4-
lane typical at the crossing now eliminates the need to go back and re-impact the stream
crossing again in the future

- Eric asked whether the design supports the design year traffic, and whether it requires the 4-lane
typical at the stream crossing
o Mike explained that the current design and project will function out to an interim year
(approximately 2034), rather than 2045, and that to make the intersection work as well as
possible, the 4-lane footprint needed to extend approx. 1000 feet south of the intersection (the
stream is approx. 700 feet from the intersection)

- Eric indicated that he would be ok with the four lanes that taper down to 2 lanes beyond the stream
crossing, as long as the design is justified by the traffic needs

- Eric asked whether the median could be reduced or eliminated in the stream crossing area to
minimize the road’s footprint
o Mike responded that the median allows for future extension of the left turn lane without
additional widening, but that he will review and consider opportunities for minimization by
reducing the median

- Eric requested that he be provided with a write-up of the justification for the impacts associated with
the project to document avoidance and minimization efforts and to show the impacts of the interim
year design vs the 2045 design

Decisions:
- Given the current information, a Nationwide 23 permit is expected to work for this project
- This project does not need to go through the merger process.

Action Items:
- SEA and Mott MacDonald will prepare a brief write-up for Eric documenting avoidance and
minimization decisions thus far in the project design and showing justifications for the project
footprint.
.