20051764 Ver 1_Scoping Comments_20000515

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ,b~~~~n t71; .~`
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
JAMES B. HUNT JR.
GOVERNOR
P.O. BOX 25201, RALEIGH. N.C. 27611-201
May 4, 2000
DAVID MCCOY
SECRETARY
MEMORANDUM TO: J o ~}-~ t-1 ~ nJI~J ASS ~I
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FROM: Jeff Ingham, P.E.
Project Development Engineer
SUBJECT: Widening of SR 118 (Airport Blvd.) to a multi-lane facility, from
NC 42 to US 264, Wilson County, Federal Aid Project STP-
1158(2), State Project 8.2341801, T.I.P. U-3823
A scoping meeting for the subject project was held in the Transportation Building on
February 28, 2000. The following people were in attendance: y
Jeff Ingham Project Development & Environmental Analysis (PDEA)
Rob Hanson PDEA
Ray Lotfi PDEA
Lubin Prevatt PDEA
John Wadsworth Federal Highway Administration
Barry Shapiro Rail Division
Todd Murray Rail Division
Tom Tarleton Location and Surveys
Ramesh Fofaria Structure Design
Jerome Nix Hydraulics
Wendi Oglesby Division 4 Construction
Pamela Alexander Traffic Engineering-Congestion Management
Michael Summers Traffic Engineering-Congestion Management
Kevin Moore Roadway Design
Sandra Casey Roadway Design
David Hinnant ROW -State Railroad Agent
Brandy Carter ROW -Utilities
Heather Joyner ROW -Utilities
Rob Allen Photogrammetry
Lanette Ingham Programming and TIP
David Rhodes Programming and TIP

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The following is a summary of the comments made at the meeting and through written
correspondence: `
PROJECT DESCRIPTION/GENERAL INFORMATION
The name of the road has changed from Wilson Christian Road to Airport Blvd. The
project proposes to provide amulti-lane facility from NC 42 to US 264 in Wilson County.
The 1996 Thoroughfare Plan proposes to widen this section of Airport Blvd to a three-
lane facility. Based on the traffic forecasts described later in this memo, athree-lane facility will
satisfy capacity requirements through the design year. Len Hill and Calvin Leggett have
concurred with limiting the scope of the project to widening to a three-lane facility.
The project schedule is currently as follows:
Environmental Assessment -July 2001
Fonsi - Apri102
ROW -October 02
Let - Apri104
COST ESTIMATES
The cost estimate used in TIP scheduling ($7,003,000) included provisions fora 5-lane
facility. The current estimate represents costs fora 3-lane shoulder facility. The estimate also
assumes that Airport Blvd will remain a 2-lane facility through the Bloomery Swamp wetland
area; a grade separation is not included in this preliminary estimate.
Current Construction Estimate: $ 3,250,000
ROW Estimate (TIP): $ 1 200 000
Total: $ 4,450,000
TRAFFIC AND COLLISIONS
The collision rate is roughly 3.5 times the statewide average for similar roads. The high
collision rate is due, however, to the high number of collisions at the intersections of SR 1158
with NC 42 and with US 264. All but 9 of the 84 collisions on the subject section of road
occurred at these 2 intersections.
The US 264 intersection has already been improved to provide exclusive left turn lanes
and additional through lanes. The NC 42 intersection will be improved with the adjacent project
U-3472, scheduled for construction in FFY 2001.
There are approximately 4000 - 4500 vehicles per day currently using SR 1158, with
approximately 1,500 vehicles turning at the Merck Road (SR 1157) intersection. In year 2025,
the number of vehicles using this section of Airport Boulevard is projected to be approximately
12,000 - 12,700 per day. The number of vehicles using Merck Road is projected to rise to
approximately 11,000 per day by year 2025. This increase is partly due to the growing industrial
area just east of Airport Blvd.

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HISTORIC CONCERNS
There are no sites of architectural, archaeological or historical significance that the SHPO
is aware of in the project area. However, the area is high probability for archaeological sites and
an architectural survey of the area has not been done since 1980. Therefore, SHPO recommends
both an architectural and archaeological survey of the project area.
ALTERNATIVES/DESIGN ISSUES
Tom Tarleton of Location and Surveys noted that utility conflicts may be high. There are
gas, water, fiber optic, telephone, and TV cable lines in the area.
Arthur Petteway of the Rail Division noted that approximately 4 trains per day cross over
SR 1158 at a maximum allowable speed of 35 mph. According to DOT guidelines, grade
separated structures should be constructed in rural areas when the exposure index (# of vehicles
per day times the # of trains per day) is 15,000 or more. The rail division recommends that a
grade-separated structure be investigated in lieu of the current at-grade crossing.
David Hinnant of the Right of Way branch (State Railroad Agent) agreed that a grade
separation at the crossing of the Norfolk Southern Railroad near Wilson Christian School should
be investigated. There are three high schools in the vicinity of SR 1158; a large number of
inexperienced drivers use this road every day.
Jerome Nix of Hydraulics noted that there is an existing 5 @ 12' by 7' culvert at the
crossing of Bloomery Swamp. The culvert was built within the past ten years; extension should
not be a problem. There is one other stream crossing near the southern end of the project. The
pipes that carry the stream under SR 1158 could also easily be extended. If the roadway were
raised to provide a grade separated crossing of the railroad tracks, the existing culvert may need
to be supplemented.
Pamela Alexander of Congestion Management noted that based on the traffic forecasts, a
three-lane facility could handle capacity requirements through the design year.
Rob Hanson noted that there is a large wetland area at Bloomery Swamp just south of the
railroad crossing. Minimization at this wetland site may need to be considered (possibly
maintaining atwo-lane facility through the wetland area).
LOCAL AND DIVISION COMMENTS
The City of Wilson commented that they prefer afive-lane curb and gutter facility. The
City feels that afive-lane facility is needed to accommodate growth in the area and to link other
five-lane sections at each end of the proposed project.
The City commented that the potential for pedestrian travel along this section of roadway
is low. The City does not request that sidewalks be included in the proposed project.

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ALTERNATIVES FOR EVALUATION
With the traffic forecasts and Thoroughfare Plan indicating the need for athree-lane
facility, NCDOT management feels that the project scope should be limited to widening to three-
lanes. Roadway Design will prepare preliminary plans and estimates for the follo~tiing two
alternatives.
1. A three-lane facility that narrows to two-lanes through the wetland area associated «ith
Bloomery Swamp. This alternative would include an at-grade railroad crossing «ith gates
and signals.
2. A three-lane facility with a grade separated crossing of the railroad tracks. This alternative
would include atwo-lane bridge over the railroad tracks. The roadway would transition from
3 to 2 lanes at each end of the bridge approaches.
Cc: scoping participants