The project is located in North Pole, Alaska, at 64.838° North Latitude and 147.397° West Longitude (T01N (Sections 19,29,30,31,32)-01S (Sections 5,6,7,8,17,18,19,20), R02E, Fairbanks Meridian) (USGS Quadrangle Fairbanks D-1 SW) (Figure 1).
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The existing surface of Nordale road is more than 25 years old. The pavement is deteriorating and requires frequent patching and maintenance. The roadway traverses areas of discontinuous permafrost, primarily from the Little Chena River to Chena Hot Spring Road, where it has suffered from heaving and tisettling as a result of poor subgrade material. The road surface has cracked and the vertical alignment is no longer level. Culverts that remain frozen in the spring dam the flow of melt water. This results in the saturation of the roadway embankment, weakening it and contributing to settlement.
Scour at the two bridges located within the project limits, the Chena River and Little Chena River, has exposed the pier caps and pilings (Figures 2 & Figure 3). If left unattended, significant damage to the bridge foundations will result.
Rehabilitate roadway:
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selective leveling of areas that have settled, possibly resulting in grade raise and expansion of embankment toe up to 7 feet on both sides of roadway (Figure 4), |
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installation of culverts in select areas to restore adequate drainage, |
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recycling existing pavement to construct a treated base, |
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construct a new paved surface, |
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upgrade road signs and apply pavement striping. |
| Work anticipated below the ordinary high water at both bridge locations will include placement of riprap in the channel and along the banks (Figure 5). Title 41 and Section 404 permits are anticipated for: | |
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Chena River Bridge - a scour hole between the center pier and the south abutment will require riprap in the streambed between the abutment and the pier. |
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Little Chena River Bridge - riprap from the original construction has eroded and settled; in-kind replacement is needed. |
For preliminary research results of environmental resources in the project area, see Appendix A. A project website has been set up at http://www.dowl.com/projects/adotpfairport/index.htm. If you have difficulty accessing this material, a hard copy can be provided upon request.
In addition to identifying any concerns and/or issues your agency might have with the proposed project, the links on the project website identify agency specific information that is requested. Listed on the project website are the respective agencies that can be clicked on to take you to a list of questions specific to your purview. This site also allows you to provide comments directly to our environmental consultant, via email.
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Appendix A |
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Figure 1- Vicinity and location Map |
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Figure 2 - Bridge Abutment Photos |
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Figure 3 - Bathymetry |
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Figure 4 - Typical Road Cross Section |
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Figure 5 - Preliminary Riprap Cross Section |
