US Highway 10 Corridor Study

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US Highway 10 Corridor Study
Tiered Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)Waupaca, Portage and Wood Counties
Proposed Interchange
Trestik Rd.
Proposed USH 10
USH
10
Junction City
CTH K
USH 10
Proposed USH 10
Stevens Point
Wisconsin River
IH 39
Proposed Interchange
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US 10 Study Segments

• 1st Tier Marshfield to Waupaca
• 60 mile corridor
• Conceptual analysis of roadway alternatives and
  Wisconsin River crossing
• 1990-1998 study
• FEIS approved in 2000
• 2nd Tier Trestik Road to IH 39
• 18 mile corridor (urban and rural, 2-lane and
  4-lane sections)
• Wisconsin Transportation Plan Corridors 2020
  connector route
• Alternatives to bypass city of Stevens Point and
  Junction City
• Wisconsin River crossing
• 1999-2005 study
• FEIS approved in 2005
• 3rd Tier IH 39 to Amherst Junction and
  Marshfield to Trestik Road
• 30 mile corridor
• 2002-2006 study
• EA approval in 2006

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Highway 10 Constraints
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Alternative Analysis
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Significant Components of the Project

• NEPA/404 Merger Process
• Public Involvement
• GIS Application
• Complex Roadway Design
• Regulatory Agency Coordination
• Endangered Species
• Wetland and Stream Mitigation

Studying endangered species, like this Wood
turtle, was an important part of the project
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USEPA Region V NEPA/404 Merger Process

• Participating regulatory agencies
• US Environmental Protection Agency
• US Army Corps of Engineers
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Federal Highway Administration
• State Historical Preservation Office
• Three concurrence points
• Purpose and need of project
• Detailed study alternatives
• Preferred alternative

Field reviews with regulatory agencies aided in
timely project concurrence
We have been pleased by the level of
cooperation at each stage of this project and we
look forward to reviewing more detailed plans as
the project moves forward. Kenneth Westlake,
Chief USEPA Region V
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Public Involvement
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Application
Estimated labor savings using GIS 600 hours
over conventional planning methods
Soil-type verification with GIS allowed early
identification of suitable corridors
Analytical capabilities of GIS allowed
multi-corridor land-use impact calculations
GIS cataloged wetland areas by type and updated
with field measurements
also an outstanding public information tool
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Complex Roadway Design
Natural Resource Impact Avoidance Minimization
Olsen Wildlife Area
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Complex Roadway Design
Natural Resource Impact Avoidance Minimization
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Complex Interchange Design

• X-Interchange

HH-Interchange
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Regulatory Agency Coordination

• Three multiple agency field reviews
• USEPA
• USACE
• WDNR
• FHWA
• Affected Native American Tribes
• SHPO
• Regulatory agency investigations
• Teamed with WDNR staff for field studies
• Fish
• Mussels
• Osprey
• Bald eagle
• Prairie chicken
• Wetland field reviews
• USACE and WDNR participated in 12 field reviews
  regarding existing wetland impacts and potential
  mitigation sites

Cameron Bump, WDNR, with a red-shouldered hawk
in its natural habitat
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Field Study and Design Overview

• Project area rich in cultural and natural
  resources
• Studies completed in conjunction with
  university/researchers
• 12 researchers involved in studies and evaluated
  impacts
• Student involvement (UWSP)
• 67 archaeological sites including 2
  campsites/villages
• Avoided ALL sites
• 120 wetlands including rare bottomland hardwoods
• Minimized impacts to 0.14 acres
• 537 different plant species
• Avoided impacts to highest quality habitats
• 42 listed species
• Avoided and minimized documented sites
• 11 stream crossings
• Bridged Wisconsin River
• Avoided 3 trout streams and Plover River (Wild
  and Scenic River)

Archaeologists uncovering artifacts at campsite
Professor Robert Freckman, UW-Stevens
Point A state and federal-threatened species,
the Tubercled Orchid plant was discovered in the
Wisconsin River floodplain
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Wetland Mitigation

• Bottomland Hardwood Forest Wetlands
• Rare wetland in Wisconsin
• 3000 of river/wetland bridging part of
  mitigation plan
• After a 2 year search, secured a mitigation site
  along the Wisconsin River
• Designed 5-acre floodplain forest mitigation site
• Data will benefit wetland restoration research

Sensitive bottomland hardwood wetlands, Wisconsin
River floodplain
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Wetland and Stream Mitigation

• Non-Riparian Wetlands
• Restore 350 acres of wetlands and 2 miles of
  brook trout habitat.
• Partnered with UWSP to complete groundwater model
  with student participation.
• Site will be a long-term educational and
  recreational area for the community.

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Green Highway Success Environmental
StewardshipImpact Evaluation Research

• Local Raptor Researcher conducted a 3-year study
  to evaluate effects of a new highway on hawk
  nesting habits
• Study concluded hawks are adaptive to highway
  development as long as there is sufficient
  natural habitat in the area

Red-shouldered hawk banded for future
environmental studies
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Green Highway Success Innovative DesignAnimal
Barrier Fencing

• Permanently reduces secondary impacts to wood
  turtle from traffic mortality

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Green Highway SuccessLessons Learned by USH 10
Project

• Tiered EIS streamlined project allowing public
  and agency involvement at critical points
  (purpose, need, alternatives)
• Partnerships with WisDOT, regulatory agencies,
  consultant, and researchers based on trust and
  open communication
• Voluntary participation by WisDOT to gather field
  data to support project
• Field data provided information on previously
  unknown archaeological and natural resources
• Research helps evaluate highway impacts to
  sensitive species
• Mitigation plans benefit the public with multiple
  end-use plans in suburban area
• Wetland restoration benefits research community
• Extensive data required to create innovative and
  flexible design to benefit the environment