Finding [29 Pa.B. 4830] Montgomery County Pursuant to the provisions of 71 P. S. Section 2002(b), the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation plans to construct alignment improvements to the Bethlehem Pike (SR 2018)/Lafayette Avenue (SR 3014) intersection which is located in the Village of Fort Washington, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, approximately 0.75 miles from the Fort Washington interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The scope of the project involves eliminating the existing intersections of Lafayette Avenue and Morris Road with Bethlehem Pike and replacing them with a connector road that will intersect with Bethlehem Pike approximately 550 feet south of the existing Lafayette Avenue intersection. Portions of Lafayette Avenue and Morris Road will be vacated as State Highways. Center left turn lanes will be constructed southbound on Lafayette Avenue at the intersection with the new connector road, northbound on Lafayette Avenue at the Germantown Academy driveway and northbound on Bethlehem Pike at the connector road. Right turn lanes will be constructed on Bethlehem Pike; southbound at the connector road, and northbound at Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Bethlehem Pike (SR 2018)/Lafayette Avenue (SR 3014) intersection project is located within the Village of Fort Washington Historic District, which was determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The effect of this project on the Village of Fort Washington Historic District will be mitigated by mitigation measures outlined in the Categorical Exclusion Evaluation/Section 2002 Evaluation.
I have considered the environmental, economic, social, and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in Section 2002 of the Administrative Code, and have concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed, and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize such effect.
No adverse environmental effect is likely to result from this intersection improvement project.
BRADLEY L. MALLORY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 99-1543. Filed for public inspection September 10, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]
