Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
,55 V , _ .MYNK <br />Comments: Several speakers at the public meetings encouraged that bikeways be included <br />in thoroughfare planning since bicycles are an efficient and viable mode of transportation. <br />Response: The typical cross- sections for right -of -way and construction for the various <br />types of thoroughfares include adequate width for both on -road and off -mad bikeways. <br />Bicycles and other non - motorized vehicles are not allowed on interstate highways, and <br />are discouraged on all high speed roads due to safety hazards. <br />PRQIEG'TION OF CRMCAL WATERSHED AREAS <br />Comments: The construction of roads in critical watershed areas will lower the water <br />quality in several ways: the danger of hazardous chemical spills will be present; pressures <br />for development will become a constant problem to elected officials; construction will <br />cause sedimentation and siltation in streams and lakes; the nun -off will be increased and <br />will result in petroleum and other pollutants in the water. <br />Response: Road or other construction in the watershed area could cause temporary and <br />long -range degradation of the water quality if careful construction methods are not <br />employed; however, techniques are available to mitigate such impacts and the <br />sedimentation and erosion control ordinance requires their use. The risk of hazardous <br />spills within the watershed areas is also increased as the miles of mad in the critical areas <br />are increased. In addition, the likelihood of trucks carrying chemicals, petroleum <br />products, and other pollutants will increase with industrial development. However, the <br />risk of an accident resulting in a hazardous spill is far lower on a freeway than it would <br />be on a narrow two lane road. In addition, both air pollution and petroleum spillages <br />are dramatically less on a free - flowing, safe, limited access road than on a congested road <br />with stop and go movements. It is also easier to incorporate spill containment t into the <br />design of a freeway due to higher design standards and control of access. <br />Since growth is a fact in this prosperous area, and since industrial development is <br />important to the economy, we must plan the road network to accommodate that growth <br />and development in the safest possible manner. when it is possible, roads are designed <br />to avoid a water quality critical area, but when residential and other development exists <br />up to the edge of the watershed, as it does in eastern Durham, the decision has to be <br />made whether the homes should be taken or the watershed should be traversed. The <br />roads will be designed to avoid watersheds to the greatest extent possible; and when the <br />watershed has to be traversed, high quality limited access roads are proposed to reduce <br />the dangers to a minimum. <br />2.3 <br />