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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS <br />2004 -2010 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM <br />lanes. Transportation modeling studies indicate that the existing four-lane section <br />from I-85 to NC 86 may be adequate to handle projected future traffic, but HOV <br />lanes, .along with widening to a six-lane section for general traffic, will be needed <br />to help alleviate congestion from NC 86 to Wake County. <br />Orange County requests that, if funding cannot be secured through other <br />transportation programs, this project include widening the bridge on Orange <br />Grove Road over I-40 to provide safe access for bicycle and pedestrian traffic <br />over the. interstate as recommended in the Orange Grove Road Study recently <br />executed by a joint committee made up of Orange County and Town of <br />Hillsborough Commissioners and staff from Orange County and Hillsborough <br />Planning Departments, Orange County Economic. Development Department, and <br />NCDOT. <br />Orange County also requests that NCDOT landscape interchanges for this <br />project in an aesthetic manner. <br />B. I-305: widening of I-85 to six lanes and reconstruction of interchanges from <br />.1 1 1:11-L_-...-.L L. 11. ...L ~.- /'~~...-L.. 1 :.-~ <br />Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-85 through Orange: County <br />unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to provide HOV and/or dedicated bus <br />lanes. <br />This project is programmed for planning in FFY 04, design in FFY 06 with <br />construction to start in FFY 10. Orange County requests the following <br />infrastructure improvements as they relate to the I-85/US 70 Economic <br />Development District. <br />1. Erosion Control Measures -Orange County requests that permanent erosion <br />control measures be included in the project. <br />2. Landscaping of Interchanges -Orange County requests that NCDOT <br />landscape all reconstructed interchanges in an aesthetic manner. <br />3. Pedestrian and BicLrcle Facilities -Orange County requests that its staff be <br />allowed to participate in the determination of where, and what type of facilities <br />are to be included in this project. Among the features requested for inclusion <br />are sidewalks and bike lanes (see the Regional Bicycle Plan for Durham and <br />Orange Counties) along roads where interchange improvements are required <br />and adequate guardrails on overpasses. <br />4. Wildlife Corridor Under I-85 (in the vicinity of US70 Interchange) -Orange <br />County requests that its staff be allowed to participate during the planning <br />stage and, that this issue be brought to the attention of the NCDOT Staff <br />Biologist. Constructing this wildlife corridor is one of the recommendations <br />2 <br />