2017-Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection Reconstruction
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Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection Project No.: C DESIGN STUDY REPORT STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES Prepared by: Seawolf Engineering 3211 Providence Drive Anchorage, AK 99508 April 2017 STATE OF ALASKA NOTICE TO USERS This report reflects the thinking and design decisions at the time of publication. Changes frequently occur during the evolution of the design process, so persons who may rely on information contained in this document should check with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for the most current design. Contact the Design Project Manager, Joe Sandstrom, at 907-717-6049 for this information. PLANNING CONSISTENCY This document has been prepared by the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities according to currently acceptable design standards and Federal regulations, and with the input offered by the local government and public. The Department's Planning Section has reviewed and approved this report as being consistent with present community planning. CERTIFICATION We hereby certify that this document was prepared in accordance with Section 520.4.1 of the current edition of the Department's Highway Preconstruction Manual and CFR Title 23, Highway Section 771.111(h). The Department has considered the project's social and economic effects upon the community, its impacts on the environment and its consistency with planning goals and objectives as approved by the local community. All records are on file with Central Region - Design and Engineering Services Division, Highway Design Section, 4111 Aviation Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99502. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES IV LIST OF APPENDICES IV LIST OF ACRONYMS V 1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1 1.1 Project Location and Description 1 1.2 Existing Facilities and Land Use 1 1.3 Purpose and Need 1 2.0 DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES 2 3.0 ALTERNATIVES 3 3.1 First Alternative: Unsignalized Intersection 3 3.2 Second Alternative: Signalized Intersection 3 3.3 Third Alternative: Roundabout 3 3.4 Fourth Alternative: No Action 3 4.0 PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE 4 5.0 TYPICAL SECTIONS 4 6.0 HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ALIGNMENT 4 6.1 Horizontal Alignment 4 6.2 Vertical Alignment 4 7.0 EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL 5 8.0 DRAINAGE 5 8.1 Permits 5 ___________________________________________________________________________________ Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection i Design Study Report 9.0 SOIL CONDITIONS 5 10.0 ACCESS CONTROL FEATURES 6 11.0 TRAFFIC ANALYSIS 6 11.1 Traffic Volume Growth 6 11.2 Level of Service 7 11.3 Turning Movement Counts and Projections 7 11.4 Capacity Analysis 8 11.5 Roundabout First Policy 8 12.0 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS 9 12.1 Signalized Intersection 9 12.2 Pedestrians 9 12.3 Wildlife crossing 9 13.0 RIGHT-OF-WAY REQUIREMENTS 9 14.0 PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE FACILITIES 10 15.0 UTILITY RELOCATION AND COORDINATION 10 15.1 Enstar 10 15.2 GCI 10 15.3 MEA 10 16.0 STRUCTURAL SECTION AND PAVEMENT DESIGN 10 16.1 Parks Highway 10 16.2 Big Lake Road 11 16.3 Bridge 11 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection ii Design Study Report 16.4 Pathway 11 16.5 Structural Sections 12 17.0 COST ESTIMATE 13 18.0 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS 13 19.0 BRIDGES 13 19.1 Alternatives 13 19.2 Alternative 1 13 19.3 Alternative 2 14 19.4 Preferred Alternative 14 20.0 EXCEPTIONS TO DESIGN STANDARDS 15 21.0 MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS 15 22.0 ITS FEATURES 15 ___________________________________________________________________________________ Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection iii Design Study Report LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Location & Vicinity Map Figure 2 2025 Non-directional Traffic Volumes Figure 3 2035 Non-directional Traffic Volumes Figure 4 2004 Turning Movements Figure 5 2035 Projected Turning Movements Figure 6 Structural Section of Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Figure 7 Alternative I. Single Crossing Bench Figure 8 Alternative II. Double Crossing Bench LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix Description A Design Criteria and Design Designation B Typical Sections C Traffic Analyses (signal warrants, capacity analysis, roundabout analysis, etc.) and speed studies D Environmental Document E Erosion and Sediment Control Plan F Permit Applications G Design Memos H Hydrology Report ___________________________________________________________________________________ Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection iv Design Study Report LIST OF ACRONYMS AADT Annual Average Daily Traffic AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ACGP Alaska Construction General Permit ADEC Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation APDES Alaska Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ARRC Alaska Railroad Corporation ATM Alaska Traffic Manual BMP Best Management Practice CFR Code of Federal Regulations DOT&PF Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities ESCP Erosion and Sediment Control Plan EPA Environmental Protection Agency FHWA Federal Highway Administration HPCM Alaska Highway Preconstruction Manual HMCP Hazardous Material Control Plan HSIP Highway Safety Improvement Program LOS Level of Service MADT Monthly Average Daily Traffic MOA Municipality of Anchorage MP Milepost MPH Miles Per Hour MUTCD Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System PGDHS A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets ROW Right-of-Way SWPPP Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan USGS United States Geological Survey ___________________________________________________________________________________ Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection v Design Study Report Figure 1. Location and Vicinity Map ___________________________________________________________________________________ Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection vi Design Study Report 1.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1.1 Project Location and Description The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) proposes to reconstruct the intersection of the Parks Highway and Big Lake Road. The proposed project is located within Section 10 and Section 12, T17N, R03W, Seward Meridian on Mat-Su Borough Tax Maps H010 and H011; Latitude 61°34’31.65” N, Longitude 149°43’27.55” W, in Houston, Alaska, within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB). The proposed reconstruction project includes reconstruction of the intersection of Big Lake Road and the Parks Highway (extending approximately 0.5 miles to the north and south of the intersection and 0.25 miles to the east of the intersection), a realignment of Little Meadow Creek to its historical flow channel, construction of a new bridge over Little Meadow Creek with a wildlife crossing, and improvement of ditches and drainage. 1.2 Existing Facilities and Land Use Parks Highway is classified as a Rural Interstate and Big Lake Road is classified as a Rural Minor Arterial, both have posted speed of 55 MPH. To the north and south of the intersection, the Parks Highway consists of two 12-foot through lanes with opposing traffic. To the west of the intersection, Big Lake Road also consists of two 12-foot through lanes with opposing traffic. Approaching the intersection from the south, the Parks Highway widens to allow a dedicated left turn lane onto Big Lake Road. Approaching the intersection from the north, the Parks Highway widens to allow a dedicated right turn lane onto Big Lake Road. Approaching the intersection from the east, Big Lake Road widens to allow a dedicated left and right turn onto the Parks Highway from a stop control. Big Lake Road and the Parks Highway were observed to have 6-foot and 8-foot shoulders, respectively, with 4:1 side slopes. Land use along the corridor consists of small commercial businesses such as NAPA Auto Parts in the northwest corner and Gorilla Fireworks in the southeast corner of the intersection; Big Lake Baptist Church on the southwest corner. Little Meadow Creek runs under and across Parks Highway just north of the intersection. The ROW is about 95-105 feet wide along Big Lake Road and 150 feet wide along Parks Highway. There is no illumination along Parks highway leading up to the intersection to Big Lake Road. However, there is illumination along Big Lake Road. 1.3 Purpose and Need The purpose of this Resurface, Restoration, and Rehabilitation (3R) project is to upgrade the intersection to: - Decrease crash rates and enhance safety; - Alleviate traffic congestion; - Accommodate future increase capacity; - Improve roadside drainage; - Provide a safe wildlife crossing to adjacent areas; _____________________________________________________________________________________ Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection 1 Design Study Report - Improve mobility for vehicles and pedestrians. 2.0 DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES Design standards and guidelines that apply to the Parks Highway and Big Lake Road Intersection are contained in the following publications: Standards: ● ADA Standards for Accessible Design, United States Department of Justice, September 15, 2010 except for the use of Detectable Warnings on Curb Ramps standards as stated in the ADA Standards for Transportation Facilities, United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), 2006. ● A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (PGDHS or “Green Book”), American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 2001. ● Alaska Highway Preconstruction Manual (HPCM), State of Alaska,