NOTICES
Finding
Perry County
[32 Pa.B. 3741] Under section 2002(b) of The Administrative Code 1929 (71 P. S. § 512(b)), the Secretary of Transportation makes the following written finding:
The Department of Transportation (Department) plans to replace the Books Covered Bridge which carries SR 3003, locally known as Three Springs Road, over Sherman's Creek. The project is located in Jackson Township, Perry County.
The project will require use of the National Register-listed Books Covered Bridge. The proposed project consists of removing the existing bridge structure and building a replica of the existing National Register-listed bridge utilizing a new steel I-beam floor system. The replicated bridge would have the same dimensions and appearance as the existing bridge but would be 0.61 meter (2 feet) wider. Right-of-way acquisition would consist of 0.31 hectare (0.78 acre). The new bridge replica would be on the existing alignment, and the bridge would be widened toward the downstream side to minimize impacts to the confluence of Sherman's Creek and Buck's Run on the upstream side of the bridge.
The environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 have been considered. It has been concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize the effects. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been prepared and signed by all appropriate agencies for the proposed action to take into account the effect of the proposed undertaking on historic properties. Mitigation measures have been stipulated in the MOA. As stipulated in the MOA, prior to removal of the bridge, it will be recorded according to Historic American Engineering Record guidelines or as a State-Level recordation, per recommendation of the National Park Service. Recordation documentation will include a site plan, a thorough history of the bridge, and photographic documentation. The Department will ensure that all documentation is completed and accepted by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) prior to implementation of the project and that copies of all documentation are made available to the SHPO and appropriate local archives designated by the SHPO.
The new bridge will be designed to the same relative dimensions and appearance as the historic bridge, will be a functioning Burr Arch structure, will use like materials, will use simulated stone form liners and colored concrete on the abutments and will reuse existing historic signage. A copy of final plans and specifications will be provided to the SHPO upon completion.
Salvageable portions of the historic bridge will be advertised to potentially interested parties. An interpretive sign will be placed near the new bridge that explains that the bridge is a replica of the original, explains the history of the original bridge and its reconstruction and places the bridge in context with other covered bridges in the area.
During project construction, the Department will place geotextiles and fill in the location of the temporary access roads in the northeast and southeast quadrants of the bridge. Class 4 geotextiles covered by 12-18 inches of no. 1 coarse aggregate. The Department will also erect fencing along the temporary access roads so that construction vehicles do not stray into previously undisturbed areas.
The Secretary has considered the environmental, economic, social and other effects of the proposed project as enumerated in section 2002 of The Administrative Code of 1929 and has concluded that there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the project as designed and all reasonable steps have been taken to minimize the effect.
BRADLEY L. MALLORY,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-1346. Filed for public inspection August 2, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]
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