AGENDA #4g

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Response to Petition Requesting Town Council Support for Higher and Longer Bridge Over New Hope Creek

 

DATE:             December 9, 2002

 

 

Adoption of the attached resolution would state the Council’s support for bridge design of adequate height and length to minimize disruption of the New Hope Creek wildlife corridor.

 

The Manager recommends adoption of the resolution.

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

The Council at its November 11, 2002 meeting received and referred a petition form Mr. C. William Davis requesting that the Council consider adopting a resolution supporting the construction of a higher and longer bridge on U.S. 15-501 over New Hope Creek between Mt. Moriah Road and Garrett Road in Durham.  The petitioner requests that the bridge structure be high enough and long enough to minimize disruption of the New Hope Creek wildlife corridor between the east and west sides of U.S. 15-501.

 

We understand that the State is presently designing a bridge replacement project at the subject location to accommodate the widening of U.S. 15-501.  We believe that there is still time to provide input on that design, and that the petition request is reasonable and in keeping with the Council’s interest in conserving wildlife corridors in our region to the extent possible.

 

If the Council adopts the attached resolution, we would forward it to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for consideration.

 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Council adopt the attached resolution supporting U.S. 15-501 bridge design of adequate height and length to minimize disruption of the New Hope Creek wildlife corridor under U.S. 15-501 between Mt. Moriah Road and Garrett Road in Durham, NC.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.         Davis Petition (p. 3).

 

A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING U.S. 15-501 BRIDGE DESIGN OF ADEQUATE HEIGHT AND LENGTH TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTION OF THE NEW HOPE CREEK WILDLIFE CORRIDOR UNDER U.S. 15-501 BETWEEN MT. MORIAH ROAD AND GARRETT ROAD IN DURHAM, NC (2002-12-09/R-8)

 

WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council is interested in conserving wildlife corridors throughout the region and the State; and

 

WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation is currently designing a bridge structure to accommodate the widening of U.S. 15-501 over New Hope Creek between Mt. Moriah Road and Garrett Road in Durham, NC; and

 

WHEREAS, the Council believes that the New Hope Creek wildlife corridor between the east and west sides of U.S. 15-501 should be conserved to the extent possible during and after construction of the proposed U.S. 15-501 bridge;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council requests the North Carolina Department of Transportation design and construct the proposed U.S. 15-501 bridge of adequate height and length to minimize disruption of the New Hope Creek wildlife corridor under U.S. 15-501 between Mt. Moriah Road and Garrett Road in Durham, NC.

 

This the 9^th day of December, 2002.