[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 34520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11665]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement: Orange County, NC

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to 
advise the public that an environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for the extension of Elizabeth Brady Road in Hillsborough, 
Orange County, North Carolina (TIP Project U-3808).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clarence W.Coleman, PE, Operations 
Engineer, Federal highway Administration, 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 
410, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1418, Telephone: (919) 856-4350, 
ext. 133; or
    Vincent J. Rhea, PE, Project Engineer, North Carolina Department of 
Transportation, 1548 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1548, 
Telephone: (919) 733-7844, ext. 261.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, in cooperation with the North 
Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve and 
extend Elizabeth Brady Road from US 70 Business to US 70 Bypass. The 
proposed project would be approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) in 
length and would include either a new bridge across the Eno River or 
reconstruction of an existing bridge.
    The proposed project is considered necessary to relieve forecasted 
congestion in downtown Hillsborough along Churton Street (US 70 
Business) and St. Mary's Road. Alternatives under consideration 
include: (1) Taking no action; (2) Two alignment alternatives that 
would require construction of a new bridge over the Eno River; and (3) 
One alignment alternative that would not require construction of a new 
bridge. The alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS were chosen based 
on the results of an alternatives analysis conducted in 2003 and 2004 
which evaluated six build alternatives.
    On December 14, 2000, an interagency scoping meeting was held to 
introduce the project to Federal, State, and local agencies. Key 
environmental issues raised during the meeting were: (1) Impacts to 
historic resources, including Ayr Mount and a former NASCAR race track; 
and (2) increased flooding of the Eno River due to highway structures. 
In January 2001, a letter describing the proposed action and soliciting 
comments was sent to appropriate Federal, State and local agencies.
    In July 2003, as part of the alternative study, a citizen 
informational workshop was held. A second citizen informational 
workshop was held in September 2004 following identification of 
alternatives to be evaluated.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the FHWA at the address provided above.

Clarence W. Coleman, PE
Operations Engineer, Raleigh, North Carolina.
[FR Doc. 05-11665 Filed 6-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M