DRAFT FS-1501A Future Interstate 87 US 17 from US 64 in Williamston to Virginia State Line Prepared for North Carolina Department of Transportation, Feasibility Studies Unit Prepared by AECOM Technical Services, Inc. January 2018 FINAL REPORT Table of Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 4 2. Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Related Studies ........................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Foreign-Trade Zones ................................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Hurricane Evacuation ................................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 Other Planned Projects ................................................................................................................................ 7 2.4.1 STIP Projects along US 17 ................................................................................................................. 7 2.4.2 Comprehensive Transportation Plans ................................................................................................. 7 3. Existing Conditions ...................................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Roadway Characteristics ............................................................................................................................. 9 3.2 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Agriculture and Farm Equipment ............................................................................................................... 10 3.4 Adjacent Projects ....................................................................................................................................... 10 4. Traffic and Safety ....................................................................................................................................... 12 4.1 Crash Analysis ........................................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 Traffic Forecast .......................................................................................................................................... 13 4.3 Traffic Operations....................................................................................................................................... 13 5. Description of Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 14 5.1 Design Criteria ........................................................................................................................................... 14 5.2 Alternatives Evaluated ............................................................................................................................... 15 5.2.1 Segment 1: US 64 to Roanoke River .................................................................................................16 5.2.2 Segment 2: Roanoke River to Pleasant Oak Road ............................................................................17 5.2.3 Segment 3: Pleasant Oak Road to Beginning of Windsor Bypass .....................................................17 5.2.4 Segment 4: Windsor Bypass .............................................................................................................18 5.2.5 Segment 5: End of Windsor Bypass to Chowan River .......................................................................18 5.2.6 Segment 6: Chowan River to End of Edenton Bypass.......................................................................18 5.2.7 Segment 7: End of Edenton Bypass to Halls Creek Road .................................................................18 5.2.8 Segment 8: Elizabeth City Bypass .....................................................................................................19 5.2.9 Segment 9: End of Elizabeth City Bypass to Dismal Swamp State Park ...........................................19 5.2.10 Segment 10: Dismal Swamp State Park to Virginia State Line ..........................................................19 6. Alternative Cost Estimates ......................................................................................................................... 20 7. Community Resources and Natural Environment ...................................................................................... 21 7.1 Community Resources ............................................................................................................................... 21 7.1.1 Local Features ...................................................................................................................................21 7.1.2 Schools and Facilities ........................................................................................................................22 7.1.3 Historic Resources .............................................................................................................................22 7.1.4 Archaeological Resources .................................................................................................................24 7.1.5 Relocations and Displacements ........................................................................................................26 7.2 Natural Environment .................................................................................................................................. 27 7.2.1 Water Resources ...............................................................................................................................27 7.2.2 Protected Species..............................................................................................................................28 7.3 Permits ....................................................................................................................................................... 29 8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................. 30 8.1 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................. 30 8.2 Stakeholder Coordination .......................................................................................................................... 30 9. Reference Materials ................................................................................................................................... 31 FINAL REPORT Appendix A Conceptual Alternative Designs ......................................................................................................... 33 Appendix B Bridge Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 34 Appendix C Stakeholder Coordination .................................................................................................................. 36 C.1 Project Internal Scoping Meeting (April 11, 2016) ...................................................................................... 36 C.2 Project Scoping Meetings (August 23 and 25, 2016) ................................................................................. 38 C.3 Local Officials Meetings (September 7 and 19, 2017) ............................................................................... 41 C.4 Stakeholder Comments ............................................................................................................................. 42 Figures Figure 1 Feasibility Study Area............................................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2 US 17 Proposed Typical Section ............................................................................................................ 15 Figure 3 US 17 Project Segment Map………………………………………………………………………...………….16 Tables Table 1 STIP Projects along US 17 ........................................................................................................................ 7 Table 2. STIP Projects in the Vicinity of US 17 ..................................................................................................... 10 Table 3. US 17 Crash Rate Comparison ............................................................................................................... 12 Table 4 US 17 Fatal Crash Rate Comparison ...................................................................................................... 12 Table 5. US 17 AADT ........................................................................................................................................... 13 Table 6. US 17 Design Criteria .............................................................................................................................. 14 Table 7. US 17 Segments