Findings [45 Pa.B. 7345]
[Saturday, December 26, 2015]Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)) establishing the Department of Transportation (Department), the Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration, as delegated by the Secretary of Transportation, makes the following written findings:
• SR 0154 Section 040—SR 0154 over Pole Bridge Run, Sullivan County.
Project Description: The project consists of extending and slip lining the reinforced concrete arch carrying SR 0154 over Pole Bridge Run in Shrewsbury Township, Bradford County. It also will include replacement of wing-walls, headwalls and streambed paving.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CEE Revaluation approved on August 27, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on April 19, 2013.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The subject bridge is completely surrounded by Loyalsock State Forest. The project will require some permanent right-of-way (ROW) acquisition and a temporary construction easement (TCE). The permanent acquisition is estimated at 0.078 acre and the TCE is estimated at 0.087 acre. Hikers using the Link Trail, which is part of the larger Loyalsock Trail system, will be accommodated throughout the duration of the project. There will be no adverse effects to the Loyalsock State Forest or Link Trail due to this project.
• SR 0422 Section 29A—Muddy Creek and Worth Townships, Butler County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves construction of a new connector road, SR 4017, between westbound SR 0422 and North Shore Drive and a new loop ramp, SR 8002/Ramp L. The SR 4017 connector will replace the deteriorating SR 8002/Ramp J Bridge over Muddy Creek. The project will also include the lengthening of the SR 0422 left turn lane to I-79 northbound, and possible signalization of the SR 0422/I-79 SB ramps, if traffic signal warrants are met.
Environmental Documents: Level 2 CEE approved on August 3, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on September 11, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: A portion of the current North Country National Scenic Trail (NCNST) route is located on State Park property within the project limits. Approximately 175 linear feet of the trail will be removed with the removal of the existing bridge over Muddy Creek. However, NCNST is independently relocating their trail away from the present location and will avoid the new Muddy Creek Bridge. The trail relocation is well outside of the project area and is anticipated to be completed before this project goes to construction. North Shore Drive in Moraine State Park lies within the project area. An estimated 1.93 acres of permanent ROW acquisition is required for this project. The Moraine State Park property utilized as a part of this project is being coordinated by the Federal Highway Administration, the Department and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as a nonconversion of Section 6(f) property. Furthermore, the property utilized for the roadway improvement is anticipated to be owned by both the Department and DCNR under joint jurisdictional ownership.
• SR 0739 Section ELR—Blooming Grove Township, Pike County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves safety improvements on SR 0739 from north of the I-84 Interchange at Lords Valley north to Pike County Boulevard in Blooming Grove Township, Pike County. The scope of work includes shoulder widening, installation of edge-line/shoulder rumble strips and drainage upgrades.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CEE approved on May 11, 2015, and two Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on April 24, 2015, and April 30, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The project will result in acquisition of 1.31 acres of required ROW, 1.74 acres of required drainage easement and 0.16 acre of TCE within the boundary of the Delaware State Forest. The project will result in no perceivable impacts to the recreational uses of the State Forest during or after the project.
• SR 1003 Section 01B—Leesport Borough, Berks County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the replacement of the existing SR 1003 (Wall Street) bridge over the Schuylkill River. The project also includes improvements made to provide the required sight distance and reconstruction of the canoe launch/fishing pier, which will be demolished during construction.
Environmental Documents: Level 1b CEE approved on July 13, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on June 9, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The Wall Street Bridge crosses over the Schuylkill River, which has been designated as a water trail by the Fish and Boat Commission (Commission). A canoe launch/fishing pier is located under the northeastern portion of the bridge with driveway access located in the northwestern quadrant; nearby parking is provided. The canoe launch is considered part of the water trail and is identified as an access point on the Schuylkill River Water Trail map and guide. The existing canoe launch/fishing pier, owned by Leesport Borough, will be destroyed and reconstructed as part of the project. A portion of the access road will become a drainage easement. A Commission-approved Aids to Navigation (ATON) plan will direct boaters through the area during construction. Temporary signage and buoys will be placed per the ATON plan upstream and downstream of the bridge to warn boaters of bridge construction and to guide them safely past the causeway. Work will be restricted during the Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn in mid-June. With these mitigation measures, public use of the water trail can continue during construction, and public access to the canoe launch/fishing pier will be temporarily interrupted.
• SR 1004 Section ORV—Hatfield Township, Montgomery County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the rehabilitation of the SR 1004 bridge over the West Branch of Neshaminy Creek. The approach and bridge roadway will be resurfaced out to the guiderails and guiderail attachments will be replaced. The roadway shoulder will be improved along the southwest quadrant of the bridge. The project also includes the installation of scour protection measures around piers and abutments.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CEE approved on July 8, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Historic properties approved on July 5, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The Orvilla Road Bridge was built in 1874, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The bridge rehabilitation will be completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. No permanent or temporary acquisition of land will be required to rehabilitate the bridge and all construction activities will be contained within existing Department ROW. The rehabilitation of the bridge structure will consist of reconstruction of spandrel walls and wing-walls, stone masonry parapets and portions of the arch barrels using existing stone salvaged from the bridge wherever possible. Consulting parties will be shown sample boards of the color and type of new stone materials during construction. The bridge's masonry capstones will be salvaged and given to members of the consulting parties. Also, the existing bridge plaque will be rehabilitated and put back on the bridge. The State Historic Preservation Office found the proposed rehabilitation project to have no adverse effect to the NRHP listed Orvilla Road Bridge.
• SR 1006 Section MFB—Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the replacement of the existing SR 1006 (Old Forty Foot Road) structure over Skippack Creek. The project activities include minor adjustments to vertical alignment, full-depth replacement and overlay, guiderail work and minor widening of the roadway approaches to tie in with the proposed bridge.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CEE approved on September 11, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on August 13, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: Evansburg State Park is located in southcentral Montgomery County. The park is used for recreational activities throughout the year and is accessible to vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and horseback riders, including some ADA accessible facilities. Approximately 0.559 acre of permanent ROW acquisition from Evansburg State Park is required on the north and south sides of the bridge for replacement of the bridge and future maintenance activities by the Department. The proposed project will have no effect on the qualities, activities, features or attributes of Evansburg State Park that qualify it for protection.
• SR 2018 Section A01—Haines Township, Centre County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the replacement of the existing SR 2018 Bridge over Pine Creek locally known as Woodward Cave Road. The bridge has been determined structurally deficient and functionally obsolete requiring replacement.
Environmental Documents: Level 2 CEE approved on August 27, 2015, and a Nationwide/Programmatic Section 4(f) Evaluation for Projects that Necessitate the Use of Historic Bridges approved on July 8, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: Built in 1940, the existing bridge over Pine Creek has been determined to have been present during the period of significance and related to the documented significance of the historic district and possesses historic integrity. The bridge cannot be rehabilitated to meet the minimum acceptable load carrying requirements without affecting its historic integrity and needs to be replaced. To ensure compatibility, architectural surface treatment mirroring design features of the historic district will be used in the abutments and wing-walls and a pigeon-hole design detail comparable to that on the existing structure will be used on the railing barrier. Through coordination with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the included context sensitive design proposed, with the bridge replacement, will provide mitigation for the adverse effect of the project to the bridge.
• SR 2043 Section BBR—Southampton Township, Bucks County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the replacement of the existing SR 2043 (Brownsville Road) bridge over Neshaminy Creek. The approach roadways will be reconstructed to raise the vertical alignment of the bridge to provide an adequate waterway opening and to improve the existing sight distance on both approaches to the bridge.
Environmental Documents: Level 1b CEE approved on August 14, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse use Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on May 13, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: Periwinkle Park owned by Middletown Township is situated in the northeast quadrant of the project area. The proposed project will require permanent ROW acquisition of approximately 0.05 acre. The land to be used is on the existing roadway slope and is not designated with a particular use within the park. The project will not affect any qualities, activities, features or attributes of Periwinkle Park.
• SR 2087 Section 001—York Township, York County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the replacement of the bridge carrying SR 2087 (Iron Stone Hill Road) over Inners Creek. As part of this project, the adjacent downstream pedestrian bridge will be removed and a sidewalk will be provided on the new bridge.
Environmental Documents: Level 1b CEE approved on July 20, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse use Public parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on October 27, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The William H. Kain Park is an established 1,637-acre park that includes Lake Williams and Lake Redman and is open to the public. The York Water Company owns the property where the park is situated but it is managed and maintained by York County Parks and Recreation Department through a lease agreement. The project area is located in the southeastern corner of the Park adjacent to Lake Redman. There is a gravel parking lot on the west side of SR 2087 that serves this portion of the park including Lake Redman. The project will require a permanent ROW acquisition totaling 0.308 acre from William H. Kain Park for the construction of the new bridge. Impacts to the property of the William H. Kain Park will be minimal and will have no adverse effects.
• SR 4015 Section 350—Fairmount Township, Luzerne County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the replacement of the existing SR 4015 bridge over Crooked Creek. The project will also include full depth pavement reconstruction, shoulder regrading and new guiderail installed on both sides of the road.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CEE approved on July 15, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on July 14, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: Ricketts Glen State Park contains the Glens Natural Area listed as a National Natural Landmark in 1969 covering 2,845 acres of scenic waterfalls and hiking trails along two branches of Kitchen Creek. This project will require permanent ROW acquisition totaling 0.070 acre from the park. This project will not affect any features, which qualify it for protection or access to the remainder of the park or recreational use areas.
• SR 7203 Section BR—Blacklick Township, Indiana County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the replacement of the T-460 (Aultmans Run Road) over Aultmans Run.
Environmental Documents: Level 1b CEE approved on July 15, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Public Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and/or Waterfowl Refuges, State Forest Land and State Game Land approved on July 1, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: State Game Land #332 was acquired by the Game Commission in 2010 for the protection of wildlife resources and use for recreation. There will be a permanent ROW acquisition totaling 0.09 acre. The proposed project will not adversely impact the current or future land use of State Game Land #332. Access to the game land and its recreational opportunities adjacent to the new structure will be maintained. Mitigation in the form of debiting 0.09 acre will occur to the State Game Land #50 Bank located in Somerset County.
• SR 7415 Section OMB—Saltillo Borough, Huntingdon County.
Project Description: The proposed project involves the replacement of the T-328 (Old Mill Road) over North Spring Creek. Old Mill Road will be improved with minor shoulder widening, new guiderail and replacing and extending a former mill race culvert.
Environmental Documents: BRPA CEE approved on August 13, 2015, and a Determination of Section 4(f) De Minimis Use Section 2002 No Adverse Use Historic Properties approved on June 20, 2015.
Proposed Use of Section 4(f)/2002 Resource: The Hudson Grist Mill, located in the northeast quadrant of the bridge, is listed on the NRHP. The project will require permanent ROW acquisition totaling approximately 0.029-acre from the historic property along the eastern and western boundaries. In addition, the project scope includes the replacement of a stone raceway culvert (that is, mill race), which is a contributing feature to the Hudson Grist Mill. The mill race will be replaced by a new pipe and headwalls. As mitigation, the new headwalls will be faced with stone from the existing raceway.
R. SCOTT CHRISTIE, PE,
Deputy Secretary for
Highway Administration[Pa.B. Doc. No. 15-2286. Filed for public inspection December 24, 2015, 9:00 a.m.]
