WFLHD, Projects, North Umpqua Highway EA

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Introduction

The North Umpqua Highway project is located entirely within the Umpqua National Forest in Douglas County, in southwestern Oregon. The project begins at MP 52.8 along State Highway 138 (SH 138) east of Roseburg and ends at MP 67.2 near Stump Lake. It is an east-west, two-lane rural state-owned arterial roadway, providing principle access to over half of the Umpqua National Forest. This is also known as Forest Highway 47 (FH 47).

The highway serves to transport timber, goods, services, passenger traffic and recreation traffic between I-5 and Highway 97. It provides access from western Oregon to Crater Lake National Park and to portions of the Winema Rogue River, and Deschutes National Forests. The highway also provides access to Diamond Lake, the largest recreation complex on national forest lands in Oregon. Much of the highway parallels the North Umpqua River, which is designated as a Federal Wild and Scenic River and also a State Scenic Waterway. The total project length is approximately 14.4 miles.

The Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service (USFS) and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is proposing to complete the preliminary design and environmental documentation.

Other agencies that will participate will be: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODF&W), National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The proposed improvements consist of upgrading the existing North Umpqua Highway to a safe, two-lane roadway consistent with AASHTO and ODOT design and safety standards. The proposed work will generally be along the existing road, although minor horizontal and vertical alignment changes may be necessary to provide a more uniform driving experience and safe travel speeds. This roadway section is located between two improved, widened sections and proposed improvements should be consistent with the adjoining sections of highway.

The construction contract is scheduled for advertisement in FY 2008, subject to available funding.

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Contacts:

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
WESTERN FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY DIVISION
610 East Fifth Street
Vancouver, Washington 98661-3801