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Home My WebLink About20090372 Ver 1_Meeting Minutes_20080422 CONCURRENCE POINTS 1 AND 2 PURPOSE AND NEED/ALTERNATIVES TO BE STUDIED IN DETAIL NC 210 (MURCHISON RD.) PROPOSED FAYETTEVILLE OUTER LOOP TO NC 24-87 (BRAGG BLVD.) CUMBERLAND COUNTY TIP PROJECT U-4444 April 22, 2008 PURPOSE OF TODAY'S MEETING The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the purpose of and need for the proposed project and alternatives to be studied in detail. Concurrence will be requested on purpose and need and alternatives to be studied (Concurrence Points 1 and 2). PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project involves widening existing NC 210 (Murchison Road) between the proposed Fayetteville Outer Loop (TIP Project X-2) and NC 24-87 (Bragg Boulevard) in Spring Lake to six lanes and upgrading the roadway to a freeway. In addition to the widening, the existing Honeycutt Road intersection will be converted to an interchange and Randolph Street extended to NC 210 and an interchange constructed. Work will also be required along existing NC 24-87-210 (Bragg Boulevard) in Spring Lake between the NC 210 (Murchison Road) intersection and the NC 210 (Lillington Highway) intersection in order to transition from the proposed freeway. Figure 1 presents the project's location. The project is identified in the approved 2007-2013 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) as Project U-4444. PROJECT STATUS AND SCHEDULE Following September 11, 2001, access onto Fort Bragg was permanently restricted. In November 2002, the Army requested that Bragg Boulevard from north of the proposed outer loop to Butner Road be closed to public traffic. Traffic now using Bragg Boulevard on Fort Bragg will be rerouted to the proposed Fayetteville Outer Loop and Murchison Road. This project has been divided into smaller projects for right of way acquisition and construction. TIP Project U-4444A extends from the proposed Fayetteville Outer Loop to the Fort Bragg boundary. TIP Project U-4444B extends from the Fort Bragg boundary to the northern Bragg Boulevard intersection with NC 210. Right of way acquisition and construction for Project U-4444AA (Outer Loop to north of Honeycutt Road) are scheduled for federal fiscal years 2008 and 2009, respectively, in the Draft 2008-2015 TIP. Right of way acquisition and construction for Projects U-4444AB and U-4444B are currently unfunded in the Draft TIP. 1 The cost estimate for the project included in the draft 2008-2015 North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program is $69,760,400. Of this total, $4,500,000 is estimated for right of way acquisition, $460,400 is estimated for wetland and stream mitigation and $64,800,000 is estimated for construction. PROJECT PURPOSE The purpose of the proposed project is to increase the traffic carrying capacity of NC 210 (Murchison Road) between the proposed Fayetteville Outer Loop (TIP Project X-2) and NC 24-87 (Bragg Boulevard) so that this roadway can also accommodate traffic now using NC 24-87 (Bragg Boulevard) through Fort Bragg, which is to be closed on Fort Bragg for security reasons. NEED FOR PROJECT In 2005, between 15,200 to 19,000 vehicles per day used NC 210 (Murchison Road) between Gruber Road and NC 24-87 (Bragg Boulevard) in Spring Lake. If Bragg Boulevard had been closed to civilian traffic in 2005, between 37,200 to 41,000 vehicles per day would have used Murchison Road between Gruber Road and Bragg Boulevard in Spring Lake. Projected 2005 traffic along Murchison Road with the closure of Bragg Boulevard is shown on Figure 2. If Bragg Boulevard had been closed in 2005, Murchison Road between Honeycutt Road and Butner Road would have operated at level of service C. Table 1 below presents the levels of service of signalized intersections along Murchison Road in the project area in 2005 with Bragg Boulevard closed. TABLE 1 2005 INTERSECTION LEVEL OF SERVICE (WITHOUT IMPROVEMENTSBRAGG BLVD. CLOSED) Signalized Intersection LOS NC 210 (Murchison Road)/Honeycutt Road F NC 210 (Murchison Road)/Butner Road F NC 210 (Murchison Road)/NC 24-87(Bragg Boulevard) E Bragg Boulevard on Fort Bragg is expected to be closed to civilian traffic within the next few years. In the year 2030, with Bragg Boulevard closed, approximately 63,400 to 68,800 vehicles per day are expected to use Murchison Road between the proposed Fayetteville Outer Loop and Bragg Boulevard in Spring Lake. Projected 2030 traffic along Murchison Road with the closure of Bragg Boulevard is shown on Figure 2. Without improvements, NC 210 (Murchison Road) between the proposed Fayetteville Outer Loop and NC 24-87 (Bragg Boulevard) will operate at level of service 2 F in the year 2030 with the closure of Bragg Boulevard on Fort Bragg. Table 2 below presents the levels of service of signalized intersections along Murchison Road in the project area in 2030 with Bragg Boulevard closed. TABLE 2 2030 INTERSECTION LEVEL OF SERVICE (WITHOUT IMPROVMENTSBRAGG BLVD. CLOSED) Signalized Intersection LOS NC 87-210 (Murchison Road)/Honeycutt Road F NC 87-210 (Murchison Road)/SR 2580 McCormick Road F NC 87-210 (Murchison Road)/Butner Road F NC 24 (Bragg Boulevard)/ NC 87-210 (Murchison Road) F OTHER PROJECTS IN AREA Other TIP projects located in the general vicinity of the proposed improvements to Murchison Road are shown on Figure 3 and listed below: Project X-0002/U-2519 is a proposed new location multi-lane freeway (Fayetteville Outer Loop). Construction for these two projects is scheduled to begin in state fiscal year 2009. Project U-3423 will widen NC 24/87 (Bragg Boulevard) to 6lanes from US 401 Bypass to north of SR 1437 (Santa Fe Drive/Shaw Road). Right-of-way acquisition is scheduled to begin in FY 2008 and construction is scheduled for FY 2010. Project U-3465 will widen Ray Road (SR 1121) from NC 210 to Overhills Road (SR 1120) with possibly intersection improvements at Ray Road and Overhills Road. The project is located just north of Fayetteville and the Fort Bragg Military Reservation. Right-of-way acquisition is in progress and construction is scheduled for FY 2008. Project U-4414 will add one lane to SR 1007 (All-American Freeway) from SR 1151 (Owen Drive) to Gruber Road, Project length is 7.0 miles. PROJECT ALTERNATIVES TDM/TSM/ALTERNATIVE MODES Travel Demand Management (TDM), Transportation Systems Management (TSM) and/or alternative modes of transportation alone would not eliminate the anticipated traffic congestion along Murchison Road. 3 NEW LOCATION ALTERNATIVE Due to cost and environmental considerations, an entirely new location alternative was not considered. NO-BUILD The No-Build alternative would not serve the purpose and need of the project. Without improvements, Murchison Road will operate at a level of service F by the year 2030 with the closure of Bragg Boulevard. EXPRESSWAY (WIDENING-NO INTERCHANGES) The initial scope of this project was to widen existing Murchison Road to six lanes with a 46-foot median and extend Randolph Street to Murchison Road at a signalized intersection. The Honeycutt Road intersection would remain signalized and a partial interchange would be constructed at Butner Road. By the year 2030, signalized intersections at Honeycutt Road and Randolph Street and a partial interchange at Butner Road would not accommodate projected traffic volumes. The intersections would all operate at level of service F. Therefore, widening Murchison Road with signalized intersections was dropped from further consideration. FREEWAY ALTERNATIVES In order to reduce impacts to wetlands and protected species habitat, widening into the median was the only widening alternative considered for a freeway. A 22-foot median with a concrete barrier would be provided between opposing travel lanes. Design concepts for interchanges were developed at Honeycutt Road, proposed Randolph Street Extension and Butner Road. The following options were considered for each location. Interchange with Honeycutt Road Honeycutt Road over Murchison Road Murchison Road over Honeycutt Road Interchange with Randolph Street Murchison Road over Randolph Street with at-grade railroad crossings Randolph Street over Murchison Road and over Fort Bragg Railroad Murchison Road over Randolph Street with collector distributor Randolph Street over Murchison Road with collector distributor Randolph Street over Murchison Road with collector distributor shifted to avoid railroad Randolph Street over Murchison Road and at-grade crossing with railroad 4 Interchange with Butner Road Single-point urban interchange Tight diamond interchange Flyover from Butner to northbound Bragg Boulevard At-grade mainline for northbound, flyover for mainline southbound No-Left Turn from Butner Road No Butner Road access from Murchison Road (tie Butner Road into existing Bragg Boulevard south of Murchison Road) Conceptual designs and traffic capacity analyses were prepared for all of these options. Two alternative preliminary designs were prepared for the project. Table 3 presents the anticipated impacts of these two freeway alternatives. FREEWAY ALTERNATIVE 1 (Interchanges at Honeycutt, Randolph and Butner) Alternative 1 would involve widening Murchison Road to six lanes with a 22-foot median and providing interchanges at Honeycutt Road, Randolph Street and Butner Road. A sketch of this alternative is shown below. N To - { TO Fayetteville Mun #WnRd. Spring Lake Alternative 1 Lane Diagram 1 A partial tight diamond interchange would be provided at Honeycutt Road, with Honeycutt Road carried over Murchison Road. A loop and ramp in the southeast quadrant were utilized in order to minimize the impacts to the wetland system located just north of this location. A design exception will be required for the vertical alignment at this location in order to tie the proposed grade in to meet an existing at-grade railroad crossing on Honeycutt Road. At proposed Randolph Street Extension, a tight diamond interchange, with Randolph Street carried over Murchison Road would be provided. The northern ramps of this interchange would be braided with the southern ramps of the Butner Road interchange Randolph Street would cross the Fort Bragg Railroad at-grade. A service road would be constructed to provide access from Randolph Street for the old Fort Bragg Post Cemetery and the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery. 5 At Butner Road, Alternative 1 would involve constructing a tight diamond interchange, with Butner Road carried over Murchison Road. Full control of access would be required along northbound existing Bragg Boulevard from Murchison Road to Lillington Highway and along southbound existing Bragg Boulevard from Murchison Road to Lake Avenue. In order to provide access to properties on the east side of Murchison Road and Bragg Boulevard in Spring Lake, Butner Road would be extended across Murchison Road, connecting with McCormick Road, Fourth Street and Fifth Street. Fifth Street would be improved between Lillington Highway and Spring Avenue, as well. The anticipated impacts of this alternative are shown on Table 3 below. ALTERNATIVE 2 (Interchanges at Honeycutt and Randolph Only) Alternative 2 involves widening Murchison Road to six lanes with a 22-foot median and provides interchanges at Honeycutt Road and Randolph Street. This alternative would remove all access to Butner Road from Murchison Road. A sketch of this alternative is shown below. & i _j { To Fayettevil14-- u' Wwd"W Rd. Spring Lake i i Alternative 2 Lane Diagram At Honeycutt Road, a tight diamond interchange will be provided, with Murchison Road carried over Honeycutt Road. A loop and ramp in the southeast quadrant minimize the impacts to the wetland system located just north of this location. Murchison Road will be shifted to the east. This facilitates the construction of the interchange while traffic is maintained on existing location and provides additional distance between the proposed ramps and the at-grade rail crossing on Honeycutt Road. At Randolph Street, a semi-directional interchange with a loop ramp located in the northeast quadrant will be provided. Randolph Street will be carried over Murchison Road. As discussed previously, all access to Butner Road from Murchison Road will eliminated with this alternative. Butner Road traffic will utilize existing Bragg Boulevard to Randolph Street, and then utilize the Randolph Street Interchange with Murchison Road. This alternative requires Bragg Boulevard to remain open between Randolph Street and Butner Road. 6 Improvements to existing Bragg Boulevard between Murchison Road and Lillington Highway will be required in order to tie the proposed freeway into existing Bragg Boulevard in Spring Lake. Additional lanes and control of access will be required. Third Street in Spring Lake will be extended to McCormick Road in order to provide access to W. T. Brown Elementary School and 5`h Street will be improved at Lillington Highway in order to improve access for properties on the east side of Bragg Boulevard in Spring Lake. The anticipated impacts of this alternative are shown on Table 3 below. TABLE 3 ANTICIPATED IMPACTS OF PROJECT ALTERANTIVES Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Wetlands 6.8 acres 9.17 acres Streams 1,107 feet 1,181 feet Homes Relocated 9 Businesses Relocated #-ZW 3 Construction Cost $83,800,000 $62,900,000 7 401 01 13 / / 401 / \ 24 / 59 \ h 87 53 \ \ 210 / 24 210 e 87 1i~Illl i ~ -r _ ring Pie fl 4 z SP Fort Bragg ~i Military Reservation n C i ~A j.. f cl~ i a - neycut t ' y ' - UO 07 k i 7 Fort CDr ~u o^, dos I', i CD 24 210 'AA I 1 I` jJ =fit VV~11 North Carolina Legend N Department of Transportation w Ak- E NC 210 Improvement Study Project Study Corridor Cumberland County, NC Fort Bragg Boundary S T.I.P. No. U4444 WBS No. 36492 'Miles ~ ' 0 0.5 1 Figure 1 Project Vicinity NC 24-87-210 (BRAGG BLVD.) 2005/2030 AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC 0 W (IN HUNDREDS) 574 992 NO-BUILD 173SPRING LAKE (BRAGG BLVD. CLOSED) 316 _ o A ~ 1 6 PETTIT ST. 174 10 402 7 317 67 2 4 ~Q 246 4 162 2 240 389 324 384 293~i 4 20 SR 2580 (McCORMICK RD.) 480 240 410 IA 65 379 688 2/ 11p 14+21 12 ~bz BUTNER RD. 11 PM 55 16 CAI? 8 ~,N, 12 /y '1J ss 406 684 HONEYCUTT RD. FORT BRAGG 202 NC 210 (MURCHISON RD.) 292/ /r o 6 108/ 156 ~40 %DIRECTIONAL 266 58 %DHV\ / 156 10 PM 60=- PEAK HOUR 400 266 ts` DIRECTION yg 658 372 Q~ 634 %DUAL %TTST N\ / '•O~ ' ss ? I NOT TO SCALE HONEYCUTT RD. ~ PROPOSED FAYETTEVILLE OUTER LOOP? (TIP PROJECT X-2) ' FIGURE 2 210 2a U-3465 V-6 tet h 1451 r ? Spring Lake x ' ,,Butner Rd A ' t Honeycutt Rd ~ 3 e, e , 1 A~ I ~ X-2 ~ 24 m - U-2519 " ¦ , s~ ,l U-4414;.._.,: U-3423 z,a ao1 Fayetteville Legend N North Carolina Project Study Corridor Department of Transportation w e Project Study Area 7- NC 210 Improvement Study Cumberland County, NC r~ Road Widening / Improvements S T.I.P. No. U-4444 Bridge Project I ' I Miles WBS No. 36492 ¦ ¦ 1 Fayetteville Outer Loop 0.75 5 .Figure 3 TIP Projects in Project Area