Guanella Pass Spot Surfacing Evaluation

1
Guanella Pass Spot Surfacing Evaluation
2
Introductions
3
Presentation Agenda

• Goal and Purpose
• Background Information
• Environmental Path
• Environmental Considerations
• Question and Answers
• Open House

4
Goal Purpose of the Meeting

• Evaluation of a change in surface type
• Gravel and macadam sections
• Surfacing is not performing in some locations
• Public investment is in danger of being lost
• Seeking public input on the change in surface
  type

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Purpose Need of the Guanella Pass Project

• Transportation Needs
• Accommodate anticipated traffic volumes
• Improve inadequate surface condition
• Improve safety
• Accommodate Forest local access

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Purpose Need of the Guanella Pass Project

• Environmental Needs
• Reduce impacts to water resources
• Repair existing unvegetated slopes
• Maintain rural scenic character
• Maintenance Needs
• Roadway maintenance cost
• Drainage
• Dealing with untreated roadway surface conditions

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Preferred Alternative Selection

• Alternative 6 was selected
• Used a lower design standard to allow for a
  slower design speed
• Closely followed the existing roadway as much as
  possible
• Consisted of three surfacing types

8
Progress to Date

• Phase 1 was completed in 2007
• Phase 2 construction is underway projected
  completion in October 2010
• Phase 3 design is underway currently programmed
  for construction starting in 2012

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Development of an Outstanding Scenic Roadway

• Cooperation between public government
• Collaboration resulted in an outstanding roadway
• Workshops resulted in design enhancements
• Rockery walls
• Steel-backed timber guardrail
• Retaining wall facing

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Development of an Outstanding Scenic Roadway
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Development of an Outstanding Scenic Roadway
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Development of an Outstanding Scenic Roadway
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Development of an Outstanding Scenic Roadway
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Design Enhancements to Benefit Wildlife

• The road design included special features for
  wildlife protection
• Additional gaps in guardrails
• Berms or boulders to facilitate crossing
• Wall height has been reduced.
• Improved aquatic habitat and fish passage

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Wildlife Enhancements
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Wildlife Enhancements
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Recent Developments

• Roadway surface type in spot areas is not
  performing as anticipated
• Erosion and loss of vegetation
• Safety concerns from rutting, washboarding and
  premature failures
• Water quality concerns
• Potential loss of investment

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Preparation of a Route Assessment

• Due to the problems that were being observed,
  CFLHD requested that an assessment of the route
  be performed
• Report is currently available on the website
• www.cflhd.gov/guanellapassroad

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Findings of the Route Assessment

• Overall Purpose and Need objectives are being met
  (globally)
• Some objectives are not being met in spot areas
  (gravel and macadam sections)
• These problems are putting the overall investment
  at risk

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Potholes and Rutting
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Rutting
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Loss of Macadam Surface
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Loss of Macadam Surface
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Loss of Macadam Surface
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Safety

• Reducing the potential for a change to driver
  expectations (lane shoulder widths)
• Removal or mitigation of hazards
• Self regulating/self enforcing roadway
• Providing a uniform roadway surface

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Soil Erosion Sedimentation
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Surfacing Erosion
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Soil Erosion Sedimentation
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Vegetation Damage
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Findings from the Route Assessment

• Degradation is expected to continue and worsen in
  some sections
• Leads to increased erosion, water quality
  problems, decreased safety and greatly increased
  maintenance needs/costs

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Recommendations from the Route Assessment

• A permanent and sustainable surface in the gravel
  and macadam sections is needed

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Proposed Changes

• Place an asphalt surface with a chip seal overlay
  on gravel and macadam sections
• A permanent and sustainable surface to address
  the deficiencies observed

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Environmental Path

• Environmental Evaluation will guide the next step
  we will determine whether our proposed change
  will result in any new significant impacts

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Environmental Issues Considerations

• Key Issues
• Rural and Scenic Character of the Roadway
• Traffic Analysis
• Impacts to Wildlife
• Water Quality
• Construction Impacts
• Others?

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Rural and Scenic Character
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Rural and Scenic Character
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Rural and Scenic Character
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Traffic Analysis

• Traffic Volumes
• Traffic Speeds
• Both overall speed and speeds at the Summit
• Travel Time

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Travel Time to Metro Denver

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Traffic Analysis Conclusions

• Traffic Volumes are not expected to change
• Traffic Speed increases will be barely
  perceptible
• Guanella Pass will not provide a shorter travel
  time to Denver

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Wildlife Impacts

• Road footprint is not widened from that
  identified in Record Of Decision and Biological
  Opinion
• Special design considerations will remain in place

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Water Quality

• Changing the surfacing type will reduce sediment
  coming off the road and will reduce erosion and
  vegetation concerns
• This will result in improvements to vegetation
  and water quality

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Construction Impacts

• All disturbance resulting from the proposed
  action will occur on the existing roadway bench

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Questions Comments

• Please provide comments to us today either
  verbally or in writing. You can also mail us
  your written comments by April 6, 2009
• Mark Meng, P.E.
• 12300 W. Dakota Ave.
• Suite 380
• Lakewood, CO 80228
• Mark.Meng_at_fhwa.dot.gov