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Home My WebLink About20190397_R-2566B Merger CP 4A Minutes 8-2-17_20170802STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ROY COOPER GOVERNOR MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: L�UgUSt 2, 2 � 1% Meeting Participants Gene Tarascio JAMES H. TROGDON, III SECRETARY SUBJECT: Minutes of Merger Meeting — Concurrence Point 4A R-2566B — Improvements to NC 105 from Clarks Creek Road (SR 1136) in Foscoe to NC 105 Bypass (SR 1107) in Boone Watauga County, North Carolina On Wednesday, July 19, 2017 at 1:00 p.m., a meeting was held in the North Carolina Department of Transportation Century Center Structures Design Conference Room C in Raleigh, NC for the subject project. The meeting attendees were as follows: Meetin� Particivants Marella Buncick* Marla Chambers Pam Cook Felix Davila Jason Dilday Teresa Gresham Tad Hardy Herman Huang Bryan Key Steve Kichefski* Dean Ledbetter* Brian Murphy John Pilipchuk* Beverly Robinson Greg Sealy Tony Spacek* Mark Staley Chris Steele* Eugene Tarascio Dave Wanucha* Derrick Weaver William Zerman *Participated via phone USFWS NCWRC NCDOT-TPB FHWA NCDOT-NES Kimley-Horn Kimley-Horn NCDOT-HES NCDOT-Roadway USACE Division 11 NCDOT-Safety NCDOT-Geotechnical NCDOT-PDEA NCDOT-Utilities Kimley-Horn NCDOT-REU NCDOT-ROW NCDOT NCDWR NCDOT-Project Development NCDOT-Hydraulics Purpose The purpose of this meeting was to identify avoidance and minimization efforts and commitments for the subject project (Concurrence Point 4A). Handouts Revised CP 4A Merger Packet Page 2 CP 4A Support Figures Summary Mr. Gene Tarascio opened the meeting, stated the purpose of the meeting, and asked attendees to introduce themselves. He then handed the meeting over to Ms. Teresa Gresham. Ms. Gresham reviewed the information provided in the Merger packet. Information for CP 4A had been posted prior to the meeting. Revisions had been made to page 2 of the packet, and revised copies were distributed at the meeting. The updated packet will be posted to the Merger Meetings website following the meeting. The project length is 5.5 miles, from Clarks Creek Road to NC 105 Bypass. However, to meet the project purpose and need, improvements were determined to be necessary only along 4.5 miles of that corridar, from Old Shull's Mill Road to NC 105 Bypass. Therefore, avoidance and minimization efforts have been evaluated only in that 4.5-mile section. Climbing Lane Discussion Several agency members had previously expressed concern that extending the climbing lane from Old Shull's Mill Road to Broadstone Road did not meet the purpose of the project, and would be impactful to the environment, economy, viewshed, and community. The widening through the climbing lane section is a best-fit design that keeps all permanent construction impacts out of the floodplain, widening asymmetrically in some areas and using retaining walls to minimize impacts. The widening would not impact the Watauga River directly, but the impacts calculated (based on a 25-foot buffer of the preliminary design slope stakes) is anticipated to impact several tributaries. Ms. Gresham reviewed the information supporting the purpose and need for the climbing lane, which was detailed in the Merger packet. NCDOT has proposed the climbing lane to address safety concerns, traffic delays, and based on design guidelines. Regarding potential safety concerns at the NC 105/Broadstone Road intersection, Ms. Chambers suggested the use of additional signage to help reduce possible confusion. It was noted that the majority of traffic traveling southbound on NC 105 turns right onto Broadstone Road. Ms. Buncick felt that traffic delay concerns did not support the traffic congestion purpose and need. Ms. Chambers reminded the Merger team that the Hellbender is a federal species of concern that is likely to be listed. She asked if the climbing lane could be shortened or if other minimization measures could be TIP Project R-2566B NEPA/404 Merger Meeting - Concurrence Point 4A Page 2 of 4 applied in this section to further reduce impacts to water resources, and requested that the buffer of trees between NC 105 and the Watauga be protected as much as possible in order to preserve wildlife passages. Design and Minimization Discussion The preliminary design does not include utility relocation or other temporary easements. There is an existing utility corridor between NC 105 and the Watauga River, as well as aerial power lines, that may need to be relocated. Detailed utility plans have not been developed at this stage of the project, but initial estimates anticipate approximately $9 million for utility relocations. Mr. Sealy noted that approximately 98 utility towers would need to be relocated with the current design, and that utilities cannot be placed underground for this project. Concern about the geology throughout the project corridor was expressed. Detailed geotechnical information is not yet available. Merger members requested this information before the CP 4B Merger meeting. Detailed geotechnical information is required to deternune where retaining walls are feasible. Mr. Pilipchuk stated that if widening occurred into the mountain, soil nail cut walls may be a good option, but that additional studies would be needed to determine how steep the cut face could be. Attendees discussed potential commitments to reduce impacts during construction, including keeping equipment out of the floodplain or keeping temporary construction easements out the floodplain where feasible. Reducing the lane and shoulder widths was discussed; however, NCDOT does not support narrowing lanes or shoulders for safety and design reasons. NCDOT stated that the paved shoulders are needed to accommodate breakdown areas as well as bicycle facilities. Several agency members expressed concern about stormwater locations and runoff treatments as well as the amount of impervious pavement being added. In some locations, there is limited room available for the treatment of runoff in the existing right-of -way. Stormwater treatments will be included in the final design and will be addressed during CP 4B and 4C meetings. Ms. Chambers suggested that the alignment be shifted away from the Watauga River and into the mountainside to avoid impacts to water resources. Utilities are primarily located between NC 105 and the Watauga River in the section with the proposed climbing lane, and she suggested holding the existing utility line where feasible. Shifting the alignment away from the river is likely to result in large cuts into the mountain, which would result in property impacts and relocations. Mr. Sealy noted that if utilities need to be relocated to the other side of the road, the utility relocations may have some of the same impacts. At the major drainage structure #6, Ms. Chambers requested that a third corrugated metal barrier be added to accommodate wildlife passage across NC 105. She expressed concern about the potential for animals crossing the road, which could lead to more vehicular collisions with animals. Mr. Kichefski noted that since the culvert size had been agreed to in the CP 2A meeting, it may not be appropriate to revisit it at this time. TIP Project R-2566B NEPA/404 Merger Meeting - Concurrence Point 4A Page 3 of 4 Conclusion The Merger team discussed the avoidance and minimization commitments. The following commitments were agreed upon by the Merger team: • The feasibility of holding the existing utility line between Old Shull's Mill Road (north) and Broadstone Road will be investigated. • Temporary construction easements will be kept outside of the 100-year floodplain, floodway, and Watauga River where feasible. • Permanent construction and slope stakes will stay out of the 100-year floodplain, floodway, and Watauga River. If not feasible, the Merger team will revisit CP 4A. • Section BA will not be constructed until sufficient information is available to apply for a phased permit. The foregoing constitutes our understanding of the matters discussed and the conclusions reached. If there are any questions, corrections, omissions, or additional comments please advise the author within five working days after receipt of these minutes. cc: Meeting Participants Project File TIP Project R-2566B NEPA/404 Merger Meeting - Concurrence Point 4A Page 4 of 4