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17 <br /> 4 <br /> in the previous paragraph , will impair trail maintenance activities , will preclude <br /> use of the trail for equestrian activities in the future ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the public and private investments to protect the New Hope Creek <br /> Corridor have exceeded $4 . 5 Million ; and <br /> WHEREAS , an increase of bridge length of 100 feet could protect public and <br /> private preservation investments of over three times the additional construction <br /> cost of a longer bridge ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the original bridge construction over New Hope Creek used large <br /> amounts of fill across the New Hope Creek floodplain which impacts the natural <br /> hydrologic and wildlife functions of the corridor ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the NCDOT Environmental Assessment does not consider the <br /> potential ecological and recreation advantages that could accrue were the new <br /> bridge to be constructed to remediate these extensive and previous <br /> environmental impacts ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the NCDOT Draft Transportation Improvements Budget ( TIP ) for <br /> 2004 -2010 budgets $ 7 , 325 , 000 for this construction project , while current <br /> NCDOT construction estimates total only $ 6 , 850 , 000 for the project ; and <br /> WHEREAS , there presently exists an estimated $475 , 000 in the TIP project <br /> budget which could fund approximately one - half of the requested additional <br /> bridge length without impacting the project budget ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the NCDOT proposes to cross one of the most important natural <br /> corridor in the Triangle with a bridge that limits the New Hope Creek corridor' s <br /> trail options and threatens the public and private investments made to establish a <br /> wildlife corridor in cooperation with City of Durham , Durham County and the <br /> Town of Chapel Hill ; <br /> NOW THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD <br /> OF COMMISSIONERS requests the North Carolina Department of <br /> Transportation revise the Environmental Assessment to give due consideration of <br /> alternatives that provide better remediation of past environmental degradation <br /> along New Hope Creek ; are more protective of Orange County Is plans for use of <br /> the New Hope Creek Corridor , more protective of the public and private <br /> investments made to protect the corridor and more attentive to the environmental <br /> improvements associated with a longer bridge length ; <br /> FURTHERMORE , the Board of Commissioners expresses its support for bridge <br /> alternatives with lengths longer than the NCDOT- preferred alternative that would <br /> be more cost- effective , protect previous public investments in the corridor , <br /> provide more environmental protection for wildlife , and permit trail uses that are <br />