I-75 from Bridgeport (Dixie Hwy) North to the I-675 South Junction
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I-75 FROM BRIDGEPORT (DIXIE HWY) NORTH TO THE I-675 SOUTH JUNCTION Bridgeport and Buena Vista Townships, May 2013 Saginaw County, Michigan I-75 from Dixie Highway north 4.7 miles to the southern I-675 junction in Bridgeport and Buena Vista Townships, Saginaw County, Michigan. Control Section: 73111, Job Number: 107497 This document has been published by authorization of the Director of the State of Michigan’s Department of Transportation in keeping with the intent of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and subsequent implementing regulations and policies, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that direct agencies to provide the public and other agencies an opportunity to review and comment on proposed projects and alternatives so that potential impacts of the project can be considered and taken into account during the decision-making process. Requests for alternative formats of this document under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act may be made by calling 517.373.9534 or TDD 800.649.3777. The cost of publishing 65 copies of this document at approximately $9.75 per copy is $633.75, and the document has been printed in accordance with Michigan Executive Directive 1991-6. I-75 from Dixie Highway to I-675 ii Abbreviated Environmental Assessment Preface The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 requires the analysis of all social, economic, and natural environmental impacts of any proposed action of the federal government. This project includes the use of federal funds. There are three classes of action. Class I Actions are those that may significantly impact the environment. These projects require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Class II Actions (Categorical Exclusions) are those that do not have a significant impact on the environment. Class III Actions are those projects which the significance of impacts is not known. Class III Actions require the preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) to determine the significance of impacts and the appropriate environmental document to be prepared - either an EIS or a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). This document is an abbreviated Environmental Assessment and will be used for decision- making and public information purposes. The abbreviated EA format is used when no significant impacts are anticipated, there is no public controversy surrounding the project, and local, state and federal agencies agree with the proposed mitigation. It describes and analyzes construction alternatives, and the measures taken to minimize harm to the project area. This analysis is done in compliance with MDOT’s Environmental Procedures Manual, developed to implement NEPA. It is being distributed to the public and to various federal, state, and local agencies for review and comment. An opportunity for a public hearing on the project will be advertised in local papers. If requested, a public hearing will be held. If review and comment by the public and interested agencies support the decision that there will be “no significant impact”, a FONSI be will prepared. If it is determined that the preferred alternative will have significant impacts that cannot be mitigated, an EIS is required. This document was prepared by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The study team includes representatives from the following areas within MDOT: Design, Project Planning, Real Estate, Construction and Technology, Traffic and Safety, Transportation Service Centers, and Region offices. Information contained in this Environmental Assessment was also furnished by other federal and state agencies, local units of government, public interest groups, and individual citizens. I-75 from Dixie Highway to I-675 iii Abbreviated Environmental Assessment I-75 from Dixie Highway to I-675 iv Abbreviated Environmental Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE ..................................................................................................................... iii DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT AREA ............................................................................ 1 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION ..................................................................... 1 DESCRIPTION OF PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROJECT ................................ 5 TRAFFIC CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................ 7 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND DISMISSED...................................................... 7 EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ..................................... 11 LAND USE......................................................................................................... 11 RIGHT-OF-WAY IMPACTS ............................................................................... 11 AGRICULTURAL IMPACTS .............................................................................. 12 SOCIAL IMPACTS ............................................................................................ 12 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ............................................................................ 13 ECONOMIC IMPACTS ...................................................................................... 15 EFFECTS ON HISTORIC (ABOVE GROUND) RESOURCES.......................... 15 EFFECTS ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES .......................................... 16 EFFECTS ON TRADITIONAL CULTURAL PROPERTIES ............................... 16 EFFECTS ON AIR QUALITY............................................................................. 16 NOISE IMPACTS .............................................................................................. 17 FISH & WILDLIFE IMPACTS............................................................................. 18 EFFECT ON THREATENED & ENDANGERED SPECIES ............................... 18 WETLAND IMPACTS ........................................................................................ 19 EFFECTS ON LAKES, STREAMS, OR OTHER BODIES OF WATER ............. 19 FLOODPLAIN IMPACTS ................................................................................... 21 EFFECTS ON WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS OR STATE DESIGNATED NATURAL RIVERS ........................................................................................... 21 WATER QUALITY IMPACTS ............................................................................ 21 COASTAL MANAGEMENT ZONE IMPACTS ................................................... 22 VISUAL IMPACTS ............................................................................................. 23 CONTAMINATED SITES................................................................................... 23 I-75 from Dixie Highway to I-675 v Abbreviated Environmental Assessment INDIRECT AND CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ........................................................ 24 PERMITS AND AUTHORIZATIONS ................................................................. 24 CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS ............................................................................. 25 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND AGENCY COORDINATION ....................................... 25 EFFECTS ON SECTION 4(f)/6(f) PROPERTIES .............................................. 26 PROJECT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................... 27 PROJECT COST ......................................................................................................... 27 PROJECT MITIGATION SUMMARY GREEN SHEET ................................................ 29 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1 - PROJECT LOCATION MAP ............................................................ 3 FIGURE 2 – TYPICAL CROSS SECTIONS ........................................................ 4 FIGURE 2a – REPLACEMENT BRIDGE TYPICAL CROSS SECTIONS ............ 5 FIGURE 3 - ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS MAP ..................................... 10 APPENDICIES APPENDIX A – TRAFFIC/CRASH INFORMATION, OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS AND YEAR 2000 CORRIDOR PLAN ..................................................................A APPENDIX B – CONCEPTUAL STAGE RELOCATION PLAN ...........................B APPENDIX C – MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC CONCEPT ............................... C APPENDIX D – SHPO CONCURRANCE LETTERS ......................................... D APPENDIX E – NOISE ANALYSIS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................E APPENDIX F – PUBLIC MEETING/RESOURCE AGENCY COMMENTS .......... F APPENDIX G – SECTION 4(f) LETTER ............................................................. G I-75 from Dixie Highway to I-675 vi Abbreviated Environmental Assessment Abbreviated Environmental Assessment Checklist Project Name: I-75 from Dixie Highway north to the South junction of I-675 Project Location: I-75 from Dixie Highway north 4.7 miles to the southern I-675 junction in Bridgeport and Buena Vista Townships, Saginaw County, Michigan. Project Control Section(s) and Job Number(s): Control Section: 73111, Job Number: 107497 Description of Project Area: The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is preparing an Environmental Assessment for the proposed widening and reconstruction of I-75 from Bridgeport (Dixie Highway to I-675 South Junction (Janes Road) and replacement of five structures, Baker Road, King Road, Hess Road, M-46 over I-75, and the railroad structure over the Huron and Eastern Railway in Bridgeport and Buena Vista Townships, Saginaw County, Michigan.