DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Finding Montgomery County [35 Pa.B. 6290] Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation (Department) plans to replace the existing River Road Bridge in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County. The project includes minor approach roadway work in conjunction with replacing the River Road Bridge. The River Road Bridge is a contributing resource to the Mill Creek Historic District. The project will also require right-of-way from Flat Rock Park. Measures to minimize harm to the resources will include the use of local stone on the surface of the proposed bridge, architectural steel railings along the sidewalk, removal and retention of the two historic plaques on the existing bridge, installation of weathered steel guide rails on the approaches of the proposed bridge and guarding against impacts to potential sensitive archaeological sediments.
The State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) will review final design plans prior to bridge construction. These stipulations are outlined in a Memorandum of Agreement between the Federal Highway Administration and the SHPO and concurred by the Department and Lower Merion Township.
The Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration has considered the environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 and has concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed, and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize effects.
GARY L. HOFFMAN, P. E.,
Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-2098. Filed for public inspection November 11, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]
