NC 49, from the existing four lane section near UNCC to approximately 1000 feet east of SR 1300 in Harrisburg, Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties, federal-aid project no. F-28-1(4), state project no. 8.1672601, T.I.P. no. R2215 : administrative action, env

268 Pages·1991·12.1 MB·English

by  Presnell Associates, Inc.,

K4
23:R2215
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NC 49
FROM THE EXISTING FOUR LANE SECTION NEAR UNCC
TO APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET EAST OF SR 1300 IN HARRISBURG
MECKLENBURG AND CABARRUS COUNTIES
FEDERAL-AID PROJECT NO. F-28-l(4)
STATE PROJECT NO. 8.1672601
T.I.P. NO. R-2215
N.C, DOCUMENTS
CLEARINGHOUSE
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT*™ 2 9 2011
STATE LIBRARY OF
NORTH CAROLINA
RALEIGH
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
and
N.C. Department of Transportation
Submitted pursuant to 42 USC 4332(2)(c)
i/s/V
Date
Manager of Pl anning and Environmental Branch
NCDOT
FHWA

NC 49
FROM THE EXISTING FOUR LANE SECTION NEAR UNCC
TO APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET EAST OF SR 1300 IN HARRISBURG
MECKLENBURG AND CABARRUS COUNTIES
FEDERAL-AID PROJECT NO. F-28-l(4)
STATE PROJECT NO. 8.1672601
T.I.P. NO. R-2215
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
JUNE 1991
DOCUMENTATION PREPARED BY
PRESNELL ASSOCIATES INC/PAI ASSOCIATES
Ronald C. Smith, P.E.
Project Manager
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2020 with funding from
State Library of North Carolina
https://archive.org/details/nc49fromexisting00pres
NC 49
FROM THE EXISTING FOUR LANE SECTION NEAR UNCC
TO APPROXIMATELY 1000 FEET EAST OF SR 1300 IN HARRISBURG
MECKLENBURG AND CABARRUS COUNTIES
FEDERAL-AID PROJECT NO. F-28-l(4)
STATE PROJECT NO. 8.1672601
T.I.P. NO. R-2215
SUMMARY

Summary
Environmental Assessment
Prepared by the
Planning and Environmental Branch
of the
North Carolina Department of Transportation
in consultation with the
Federal Highway Administration
1. Type of Action
Federal Highway Administration Action, Environmental Assessment.
2. Additional Information
The following individuals can be contacted for additional information concerning this
Environmental Assessment:
Mr. Nicholas L. Graf, P.E.
Division Administrator
Federal Highway Administration
310 New Bern Avenue
Post Office Box 26806
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
Telephone: [phone]
Mr. L.J. Ward, P.E., Manager
Planning and Environmental Branch
Division of Highways
Highway Building
Post Office Box 25201
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
Telephone: [phone]
3. Action required by other Federal Agencies
Application for a general permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be required
for this project. The project is expected to qualify for a nationwide permit under activity
number 14 of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977.
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4. Description of Action
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to widen NC 49
from the existing four-lane section near the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
(UNCC) in northeast Mecklenburg County to a point approximately 1,000 feet east of SR
1300 in the Town of Harrisburg in Cabarrus County. The project is approximately 4.2
miles in length. (See Figure 1.2 for the project study area).
The recommended alignment and proposed improvements consist of widening existing NC
49 to a divided multi-lane highway from the existing four-lane section near UNCC to the
Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County line, and then continuing into the Town of Harrisburg with
a five-lane section to approximately 1,000 feet east of Morehead Road (SR 1300). Access
along the proposed roadway will be permitted.
The project is included in the 1991-1997 North Carolina Transportation Improvement
Program, TIP No. 2215, with right of way acquisition scheduled to begin in Fiscal Year
1993 and construction in Fiscal Year 1995. The estimated cost of the project is
$10,145,000; with a construction cost of $5,100,000 and right of way cost of $5,045,000.
5. Alternatives Considered
No-Build Alternative
The No-Build Alternative provides for regular maintenance of the existing transportation
routes and systems. Examples of regular maintenance include patching and resurfacing
roads, regrading shoulders, and maintaining ditches.
Advantages of the No-Build Alternative include:
• No acquisition of residential or business property.
• No impact on wetlands.
• No removal of biotic communities.
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Disadvantages of the No-Build Alternative include:
• Deterioration of traffic service to Level "F".
• Increase in number of hours of traffic congestion.
• Potential increase in number of accidents/fatalities.
The No-Build Alternative is not consistent with the local transportation goals or the
Thoroughfare Plan. The alternative provides a do-nothing condition for qualitative
comparison to the Preferred Alternate, but it is not an effective alternative.
Preferred Alternate
The Preferred Alternate would consist of staged construction from Mallard Creek Church
Road (SR 2833) in Mecklenburg County to just west of Caldwell Road (SR 1173) in
Cabarrus County, and a five-lane urban section from that point to approximately 1,000
feet east of Morehead Road (SR 1300) in Harrisburg. The typical sections for the staged
construction are shown on Figure 3.2. The initial stage would be a four-lane divided rural
highway. The second stage would provide a six-lane urban section by adding a lane with
curb and gutter in each direction on the outside of the four-lane divided facility. It is
anticipated that this stage should be constructed by the year 2004 to maintain an
acceptable level of service. The third stage would provide an eight-lane urban section by
adding a lane with curb and gutter in each direction in the median of the six-lane divided
facility. The construction of this ultimate (third stage) section is dependent upon the
completion of Charlotte’s Outer Loop and other major thoroughfares, and upon the area’s
growth. The five-lane section would be an urban curb and gutter facility and is
considered to be the ultimate section in Cabarrus County. The typical sections for the
five-lane section are shown on Figure 3.3.
6. Environmental Impacts
Implementation of the proposed project will result in positive impacts which include
providing adequate roadway capacity for the safe, efficient movement of traffic between
UNCC and Harrisburg. The project will also provide system continuity between the
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existing four-lane section west of Mallard Creek Church Road (SR 2833) and the four-
lane section east of Morehead Road (SR 1300). The proposed action is consistent with
both local and regional plans for recommended improvements.
The proposed project will require the displacement of five residences and three
businesses. The North Carolina Board of Transportation offers a Relocation Assistance
Program to help minimize the effects of relocation. Approximately 25 acres of additional
right of way will be required to accommodate the proposed project. Construction
easements will be required along the project. The project will result in the unavoidable
loss of approximately 0.3 acre of wetlands. There will be no major hazardous waste sites
impacted by the project, although underground storage tanks may exist at existing or
former service stations.
Increased noise levels will be experienced along NC 49 as a result of the proposed
project. Two sites were determined to have noise levels that either approach or exceed
the noise abatement criteria of 67 dBA. A preliminary evaluation of noise abatement
measures indicated that constructing a barrier at one of the sites would possibly be cost-
effective. A final determination as to the reasonableness and feasibility of noise
abatement measures will be addressed during roadway design and the public involvement
process.
There will be other short-term impacts associated with the project. Minimal water quality
impacts would likely occur during the construction phase of the project. Erosion control
measures will be implemented to minimize potential impacts. There are no floodplains
impacted by construction of the project. Motorists will be subjected to minor delays and
inconveniences during construction. The project will not impact any 4(f) properties,
structures of historical or architectural importance, or archaeological sites. There will be
no carbon monoxide exceedances of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards as a
result of the project. It is anticipated that no endangered or protected species will be
directly affected by the project. However, a scientific survey will be conducted to verify
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