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5 <br />d. Incorporate bridge designs that allow wildlife to cross safely under the <br />bridge and that allow pedestrian passage along any existing or planned <br />trail-system connectors. <br />1. Bridge on Orange Grove Road <br />Orange County requests that, if funding cannot be secured through another <br />project, this project include widening the bridge on Orange Grove Road over <br />I-40 to provide safe access for bicycle and pedestrian traffic over the <br />interstate as recommended in the (2002) Orange Grove Road Study executed <br />by a joint committee made up of Orange County and Town of Hillsborough <br />Commissioners and staff from Orange County and Hillsborough Planning <br />Departments, Orange County Economic Development Department, and <br />NCDOT. <br />B. <br />Environmental Considerations <br />This project would cross three tributaries of the Eno River (Cates Creek, <br />Stony Creek and Rhodes Creek). Care should be exercised to minimize <br />environmental and water quality degradation during construction and provide <br />culverts with sufficient space for wi{dlife migration. Additionally, a study from <br />1992 identified a possible connection between the Duke Forest and Eno River <br />State Park with a connection in this area (Mount Herman Church Road). The <br />County and the Triangle Greenways Council have discussed this concept as <br />part of the Triangle Greenprint project. Reservation of a pedestrian crossing <br />linking these two large open space and trail areas would be desirable. <br />2. Design Features <br />Planning and design for this project are in progress. Right-of-way acquisition <br />is scheduled to start in FFY 10 -FFY 12, with construction starting in FFY 10. <br />Orange County requests that NCDOT consider the following design features <br />for this project: <br />a. Provide HOV lanes. Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-85 <br />through Orange County unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to <br />provide HOV and/or dedicated bus lanes. <br />b. Use native plants in landscaping at interchanges for this project. <br />c. Include noise walls or other means to reduce the effects of traffic noise on <br />residential and other uses located along the corridor. <br />d. Include any available wildlife mitigation measures, particularly at bridges. <br />e. Incorporate bridge designs that allow wildlife to cross safely under the <br />bridge and that allow pedestrian passage along any existing or planned <br />trail-system connectors. <br />