Orange County NC Website
D °~~~ <br />9 <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 Deparkment, and <br />NCDOT, <br />B, <br />Environmental Considerations <br />This project would crass 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 />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 />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 an~existing or planned <br />trail-system connectors. <br />3. Infrastructure Improvements <br />Orange County requests the following infrastructure improvements as they <br />relate to the I-85/US 70 Economic Development District. <br />a, Erosion Control Measures -Orange County requests that permanent <br />erosion control measures be included in the project. <br />