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ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT HOWELL MILL ROAD
Waynesville, North Carolina |
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In 2001, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) selected Ko & Associates to prepare the environmental planning documents as well as functional and preliminary highway designs for improvements to Howell Mill Road in Waynesville, Haywood County, NC. This 1.5 mile length of Howell Mill Road is a narrow roadway with sharp curves, no shoulders, and a railroad crossing in a sharp curve that limits driver sight distance. It connects two major entrances to Waynesville, US 74 (Russ Avenue) and US 23 Business (Asheville Highway).
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The four proposed alternatives are being developed to avoid and minimize effects, to the extent possible, on the human and natural environment. A major recreation center, three historic properties, a trout stream, steep terrain, and a railroad crossing are some of the important factors constraining the alternative designs. Major engineering and environmental planning efforts include:
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Reports detailing the purpose and need and preliminary alternatives considered for the project
- Natural resource investigations to determine potential effects on trout streams, wetlands, and federally protected species
- A comprehensive public involvement program that includes public workshops, newsletters, small group meetings, and hearings
- Cultural resources investigations to identify historic and archaeological sites
- Evaluation of alternatives and minimization efforts between historic properties and the Public Park (resources protected by Section 4(f) of the DOT Act of 1966)
- Traffic capacity, traffic noise, and air quality studies
- Evaluation of social, economic, and indirect/ cumulative effects in the study area
- Development of functional and preliminary roadway designs
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