Welcome! Culloden Project Informational Public Meeting State Project: U306-64-31.65 00

Thursday, January 17, 2019 / 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Culloden Elementary School 2100 US 60 Culloden, West

The Division of Highways (WVDOH) is conducting an Informational Public Meeting for the Culloden Interchange Project. The purpose of this meeting is to answer questions and listen to ideas or concerns about the proposed project. This meeting also complies with the public involvement requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Project maps and other information are on display for your review here today. Members of the study team are available to discuss these materials. THERE WILL BE NO FORMAL PRESENTATION

Purpose and Need Originally conceived as an additional access point when Interstate 64 was constructed in the 1960s, the Culloden Interchange Project began at that time with interchange ramp design and right of- way acquisition, but did not proceed to construction. The current focus on the interchange and associated connector to US 60 resulted from growing concerns regarding increased traffic and congestion on Interstate 64 between Hurricane and Milton, West Virginia. The Culloden interchange concept grew to represent an additional outlet for round-trip daily traffic moving from the community of Hurricane to Charleston. In 2015, the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) Planning and Research Division developed an analysis of construction impacts associated with this interchange. The analysis included recommendations for local road improvements and revised traffic patterns that would ease local consequences of interchange construction. Those recommendations are being further studied and incorporated into design and construction documents and a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study coordinated with that work.

January 9, 2019 Culloden Interchange Project Informational Public Meeting 01/17/19

WVDOH is planning for the replacement of the bridges carrying eastbound and westbound I-64 over County Route 60/21 (Benedict Road), adding a diamond interchange at the location of these bridges (mile post 32), and upgrading Route 60/21 to a three-lane connector road from the new diamond interchange to County Route 60/10 (Virginia Avenue). There will be a new connection from Benedict Road / Virginia Avenue to US 60, with two alternatives as shown below. WVDOH is currently preparing an Environmental Assessment to identify potential impacts of the entire project. Preliminary engineering studies have been completed and detailed design studies are underway. The following project components are proposed without alternative options:

 I-64 Interchange Design: The diamond interchange and bridge improvement was previously designed by HNTB Corporation in the late 1960s and was not modified as part of this study except for the I-64 ramp connection points as affected by the profile grade adjustment and modifications to Benedict Road. The right-of-way for this part of the project is already owned by WVDOH.

 Benedict Road Upgrades: Currently, Benedict Road is a two-lane roadway with a posted speed limit of 25 MPH. The road connects to Virginia Avenue and provides direct access to fourteen (14) residential parcels. The proposed upgrade will convert Benedict road to a three-lane road with an additional turn lane for access to Virginia Avenue and a residential access frontage road.

Connector Road Alternatives

Two alternatives have been developed for the connector road from Virginia Avenue to US Route 60. The estimated costs provided here include design and construction (but does not include right-of-way or utility relocation).

 Alternative 1: Alternative 1 connects from Benedict Road to US Route 60 by extending south across the railroad and meeting US Route 60 near Thompson Road. This alternative will require a major drainage structure to convey Indian Fork Creek under the proposed Connector Road. Construction of the interchange, Benedict Road upgrades, and Alternative 1 Connector total estimated cost is 33.75 million.

 Alternative 2: Alternative 2 connects from Benedict Road to US Route 60 by extending to the west in the vicinity of Whites’ Mobile Home Park and south. This alternative avoids crossing over the railroad. This alternative will require a major drainage structure to convey Indian Fork Creek under the proposed Connector Road. Construction of the interchange, Benedict Road upgrades, and Alternative 2 Connector total estimated cost is $29.65 million. Culloden Interchange Project Informational Public Meeting 01/17/19

Culloden Interchange Project Informational Public Meeting 01/17/19

Tentative Project Schedule

Informational Public Meeting Thursday, January 17, 2019

Comments Due Tuesday, February 19, 2019

FHWA and WVDOH to Approve Draft EA February 2020

Informational Workshop March 2020

Comments on Draft EA Due Early April 2020 FHWA and WVDOH to Issue Decision Late April 2020 Document

Note: Above dates are tentative and subject to change.

Culloden Interchange Project Informational Public Meeting 01/17/19

Comments following tonight’s meeting are due by February 19, 2019

You may provide comments through our website:

http://go.wv.gov/dotcomment

Public Comments, Engineering Projects, click the Culloden Interchange Project link

Email to: [email protected]

Or by regular mail by writing to:

Mr. R.J. Scites, P.E. Director, Engineering Division West Virginia Department of Transportation 1334 Smith Street Charleston, WV 25301

Thank you for attending our meeting! Your interest in the project is greatly appreciated.

Culloden Interchange Project Informational Public Meeting 01/17/19

DATE: Mr. RJ Scites, P.E. Director, Engineering Division West Virginia Division of Highways 1334 Smith Street Charleston, West Virginia 25301

DATE: Thursday, January 17, 2019 LOCATION: Culloden Elementary School SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOP PUBLIC MEETING PROJECT: Culloden Interchange Project U306-64-31.65 00 NHPP-2317(001)D Cabell County

COMMENTS DUE BY Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Please consider the following comments: ______

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(Please print the following information)

NAME:

ADDRESS:

ORGANIZATION (IF ANY):

How did you hear about the Informational Workshop Public Meeting?

Project Information and Comment Sheets

Can be found online at our WVDOH Website at http://go.wv.gov/dotcomment. Under Engineering Projects, Open, and then click Culloden Interchange