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5 <br />1. HOV Lanes <br />The studies for the project in Orange County should be reviewed prior to <br />construction, especially with respect to the recently completed study <br />concerning high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. <br />Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-40 through Orange County <br />unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to provide HOV and/or dedicated <br />bus lanes (from NC 86 westward). Transportation modeling studies indicate <br />that the existing four-lane section from I-85 to NC 86 may be adequate to <br />handle projected future traffic, but HOV lanes, along with widening to a six- <br />lane section for general traffic, will be needed to help alleviate congestion <br />from NC 86 to US 1/64 in Wake County. <br />2. Design Features <br />Orange County also requests that NCDOT consider the following design <br />features for this project: <br />a. Use native plants in landscaping at interchanges for this project; <br />b. Include noise walls or other means to reduce the effects of traffic noise on <br />residential and other uses located along the corridor; <br />c. Include any available wildlife mitigation measures, particularly at bridges; <br />and <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 />3. 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 />Widening of I-85 to six lanes and reconstructio <br />at H i <br />e <br />1. 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 wildlife 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 />