HB-0065_Start_of_Study_Package

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ROY COOPER J.R. “JOEY” HOPKINS
GOVERNOR SECRETARY

NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HIGHWAY DIVISION 11

Telephone: [phone]
Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968
Website: www.ncdot.gov
801 STATESVILLE ROAD
NORTH WILKESBORO, NC 28659

MEMORANDUM
May 30, 2024

FROM: Daniel Adams, PE
Highway Division 11 – Project Engineer

SUBJECT: Project Information for the replacement of Bridge No. 691 over Stony Fork Creek on SR
1170 (Casper Hawkins Road) in Wilkes County as TIP project HB-0065

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Highway Division 11 is beginning the
project development, environmental, and engineering studies for the proposed replacement of Bridge No.
691 over Stony Fork Creek on SR 1170 (Casper Hawkins Road) in Wilkes County as project HB-0065.
The project is listed in the NCDOT 2024-2033 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Right
of way acquisition is scheduled for 2026, and construction is scheduled for 2027. The attached figures
show the vicinity, study area and topography maps for the proposed project. The project is currently
federally funded, and NCDOT is preparing a Categorical Exclusion document. NCDOT has made a
preliminary determination that the project will not proceed through the NEPA/404 Merger Process.

In lieu of holding an in-person scoping meeting, NCDOT is providing the attached project information
and map. We welcome your input on the proposed project and would appreciate any information that may
be helpful in evaluating the potential environmental effects. If applicable, please identify any permits or
approvals which may be required by your organization. Please provide your input by July 1, 2024.

If you have any questions concerning the project, please contact me by email at [e-mail] or
by phone at [phone]. Please include the Project Number HB-0065 in all correspondence and
comments.

Sincerely,

Daniel Adams, PE

Attachments

Project Data Sheet & figures
DocuSign Envelope ID: CE49C66F-CAF8-4E7D-B36D-0B03F8A611CC
Page 1 of 3
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Project Data Sheet
STIP Project HB-0065

Essential Project Information
STIP Project Name Replace Bridge No. 691 over Stony Fork Creek on SR 1170 (Casper
Hawkins Road) in Wilkes County
STIP Number/WBS Number STIP No. HB-0065 / WBS No. 50735.1.1
County Caldwell
NCDOT Division 11
ROW Date 9/18/26
LET Date 9/16/27
Schedule Considerations RAISE Grant Funds, stipulations on NEPA document due date 11/30/24
Cost Estimates TBD
Funding Type Federal
Proposed Project Details
Project Description Replacement of Bridge No. 691 over Stony Fork Creek on SR 1170
(Casper Hawkins Road) in Wilkes County
Project Limits From the bridges, the study area covers approximately 650 feet north of
the bridge on SR 1170 and approximately 450 feet south/east
Typical Section Proposed*: 2 lanes at 10 feet each, 2 foot shoulder, 7 foot shoulder with
guardrail
Bridge: 24 feet clear roadway, 40 feet long
*coordination with IMD Complete Streets is pending; widening roadway and bridge
Access Control No access control
Design Speed 30 mph (Statutory Speed Limit is 55 mph, however existing horizontal
geometry accommodates less than 20 mph)
Right-of-Way Width 60 feet
Physical or Engineering
Constraints
House approx. 100 feet from SE corner of bridge
Other Considerations Raise structure.
Survey Request Date TBD
Design Plan TBD – use Subregional Tier; Use AASHTO Low Volume Local Roads (ADT
≤ 400) Guidelines.
Construction
Recommendation
Replace on new location slightly northeast (downstream) of the
existing bridge
Consultant Involvement Wetherill – hydraulics, structures, utilities, roadway, project
management
Three Oaks – NEPA document, natural systems
Terracon – Geotechnical services
DocuSign Envelope ID: CE49C66F-CAF8-4E7D-B36D-0B03F8A611CC
Page 2 of 3
Project History
Planning Studies Type I or II CE
SPOT Description N/A
Feasibility Studies N/A – Prescreening process completed to identify major constraints.
Problem Statement Posted weight limit of 34 tons for single vehicles and 41 tons for TTST.
Sufficiency rating of 61.35. Built in 1958 and reconstructed in 2022. One
lane bridge. Functionally obsolete.
Alternatives Previously
Dismissed and Why
No off-site detour due to dead-end road.
Purpose & Need
Purpose and Need Purpose: Replace Bridge No. 349 over Joes Creek on SR 1574 (CC
Camp Road) in Caldwell County

Need: In 2020, Wilkes County Bridge 960691 sufficiency rating was
58.30 and the bridge was deemed structurally deficient with a deck
condition rating of 4, according to Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) standards. The bridge has since been maintained with
regular maintenance and repairs. However, past a certain degree of
deterioration, most timber elements become impractical to maintain
and upon eligibility are programmed for replacement.

Supporting Data Per bridge inspection report the bridge has a sufficiency rating of
61.35. The bridge was built in 1958 and reconstructed in 2022.
Alternatives Currently Under Consideration
Alternative 1 (Preferred) Replacement of Bridge No. 691 on new location
Alternative 2
Public and Agency Coordination
Anticipated Permits 404/401
Federal Agency Involvement USACE/FHWA
Public Involvement Strategy N/A
Merger Screening Date Project not anticipated to enter the Merger Process
Potential Merger Triggers None
Existing Conditions
Functional Classification Local roadway
Strategic Highway Corridor no
AADT 70 vpd from year 2000, 90 vpd projected to 2024
Access Control None
Typical Section Approach roadway – 12 ft w shoulder
Bridge – little shoulders and guardrail, with a total clear roadway width
of 16 ft
Right-of-Way Width 60-feet
Posted Speed Not posted, 55 mph statutory
Structures (bridges, RCBC,
etc.)
One-lane structure – Bridge No. 691 – 34 feet long
Railroad Involvement No
Other Adjacent STIP Projects N/A
Preliminary Resource Inventory Table
DocuSign Envelope ID: CE49C66F-CAF8-4E7D-B36D-0B03F8A611CC
Page 3 of 3
Utilities Powerline, Piedmont EMC-Distribution, aerial in conflict
Telephone, Century Link, aerial in conflict
Water point for fire trucks located off end of existing bridge.
Hazardous Materials No recorded sites in the PSA
Known Potentially-Eligible
National Register of Historic
Places Sites/Districts
No recorded sites in the PSA
Other Cultural Resources Archaeology survey TBD
Wetlands Possible wetlands in NE quadrant of study area
Streams Stony Creek
FEMA Floodplain Detailed
Study Area
100-year flood zone
Water Supply Watersheds No
Riparian Buffer Rules No
Active Agriculture Yes
Parks, Greenways, Game
Lands, Section 4(f) & Section
6(f) Properties
No
Environmental Justice
Populations
TBD
Other Resources (i.e., Wild
and Scenic Rivers, TVA,
Scenic Byways, etc.)
Trout waters – no trout moratorium. Possible tree clearing moratorium
for bats.

DocuSign Envelope ID: CE49C66F-CAF8-4E7D-B36D-0B03F8A611CC
NORTH CAROLINADEPARTMENTOF TRANSPORTATIONDIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
^_
´7
0 0.25 0.5
Miles
Project Location
Figure1
County:
WBS:
Date:
Div:STIP#
MARCH 2024WILKES COUNTYNORTH CAROLINA
VICINITY MAPREPLACE BRIDGE NO 691ON SR 1170 (CASPER HAWKINS RD)OVER STONY FORK CREEK
WILKES
11 HB-0065
50735.1.1
DocuSign Envelope ID: CE49C66F-CAF8-4E7D-B36D-0B03F8A611CC
NORTH CAROLINADEPARTMENTOF TRANSPORTATIONDIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
C
a
s
p
e
r

H
a
w
k
i
n
s

R
d
´
0 200 400
Feet
Legend
Project Study Area
Streets
Figure2
S t o n y F o r k C r e e k
Bridge 691
County:
WBS:
Date:
Div:STIP#
MARCH 2024WILKES COUNTYNORTH CAROLINA
STUDY AREA MAPREPLACE BRIDGE NO 691ON SR 1170 (CASPER HAWKINS RD)OVER STONY FORK CREEK
WILKES
11 HB-0065
50735.1.1
DocuSign Envelope ID: CE49C66F-CAF8-4E7D-B36D-0B03F8A611CC
NORTH CAROLINADEPARTMENTOF TRANSPORTATIONDIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
´
0 400 800
Feet
Legend
Project Study Area
Figure3
County:
WBS:
Date:
Div:STIP#
MARCH 2024WILKES COUNTYNORTH CAROLINA
USGS TOPO MAPREPLACE BRIDGE NO 691ON SR 1170 (CASPER HAWKINS RD)OVER STONY FORK CREEK
WILKES
11 HB-0065
50735.1.1
USGS Topo Grid - Maple Springs
DocuSign Envelope ID: CE49C66F-CAF8-4E7D-B36D-0B03F8A611CC