MDOT releases Blue Water Bridge Plaza Study Final Environmental Impact Statement
Contact:
Janet Foran, MDOT Office of Communications, 517-335-7176
Agency:
Transportation
March 24, 2009 -- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has released the Blue Water Bridge Plaza Study Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and provides a full overview of the following elements:
- Purpose and Need of the project
- Recommended Alternative
- Social, Economic, and Environmental Impacts of the Recommended Alternative
- Mitigation and Enhancement measures which will offset the direct and indirect impacts of the project, and
- Responses to comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement released in September 2007.
The FEIS identifies a Recommended Alternative which proposes to expand the U.S. port of entry and improve 2.5 miles of the I-94/I-69 corridor west of the plaza. The proposed expanded plaza area is bordered by Hancock Street on the north, 10th Avenue to the east, and relocated Pine Grove Avenue to the south and west. Improvements to the I-94/I-69 corridor include the replacement and widening of the Black River bridge to nine lanes to accommodate the separation of local and international traffic, reconstruction of the Water Street interchange, reconfiguring the Lapeer Connector interchange to provide full access, and relocation of the International Welcome Center.
"MDOT consulted with the local agencies, listened to the community, and, working with our federal partners, has incorporated this input and addressed the significant concerns identified by all stakeholders," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "We believe this revised plan will meet the needs of the community, while providing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency with the necessary layout it needs to get its job done."
"The Blue Water Bridge is a significant economic asset for the local, state and national economies. More than $110 million worth of goods crossed the bridge in 2007," he said. "These needed improvements to the plaza will increase the efficiency of trade and people across the bridge, improve safety, access and provide long-range capacity for the I-94/I-69 corridor."
GSA, the government's landlord, has indicated that the project will help U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency meet future growth needs until the year 2030.
Key Points of the FEIS
-The Recommended Alternative brings the existing elevated plaza (22 feet) down to grade which requires the relocation of Pine Grove Avenue to the south and west of the plaza.
-The Recommended Alternative has reduced the permanent size of the U.S. port of entry from 65 acres to 56 acres. Additional acreage is required to relocate Pine Grove Avenue to the south and west of the expanded plaza, as well as to construct the plaza project and maintain traffic during the construction phases of the project. Following the completion of the project, all excess property not needed for a permanent transportation use will be sold at fair market value. e estimated total project cost of both the plaza and the I-94/I-69 corridor improvements is $553 million. MDOT estimates the construction portion of this project will generate approximately 4,430 jobs.
-More than $150 million of improvements will be made to the I-94/I-69 corridor connecting to the plaza. These improvements are designed to improve access to the Lapeer Connector, Water Street, and Pine Grove Avenue interchanges, as well as improve safety. Specifically, the Recommended Alternative will eliminate the existing eastbound weave/merge on the Black River Bridge and will provide dedicated lanes for international traffic heading to Canada and local traffic heading to the Port Huron area.
-During the design phase, MDOT commits to continue working closely with its local stakeholders to minimize the direct and indirect impacts of this project. Specifically, MDOT commits to minimizing impacts associated with construction and maintaining traffic during the plaza and corridor construction periods.
-The estimated delay at the plaza will be reduced from an existing average of 26 minutes entering the U.S., to a projected three-minute average delay under the Recommended Alternative.
-The FEIS addresses over 1,000 comments submitted on the Draft EIS in December 2007.
-MDOT commits to adding over $13 million in project mitigation and enhancement measures to reduce the direct and indirect impacts of the project. These mitigation measures were developed over the last year working cooperatively with federal (congressional delegation), state (locally elected legislators), and local stakeholders from the city of Port Huron, St. Clair County, Port Huron Charter Township, and the Bridge Plaza Business and Community Coalition. The mitigation and enhancement measures seek to:
- Improve access to the greater Port Huron community
- Enhance economic and community redevelopment opportunities
- Incorporate aesthetic and context-sensitive design features into the plaza and corridor projects
- Improve non-motorized circulation and access
- Enhance emergency service
- Decrease utility impacts associated with the plaza expansion, and
- Minimize the impacts on the natural and human environments.
No sooner than 30 days after the publication of the FEIS in the Federal Register, the FHWA will issue a Record of Decision (ROD), the next step in the environmental clearance process. Once a ROD is issued, MDOT can proceed into the design and right of way acquisition phases of the project.
- Fort Gratiot Township, 3720 Keewahdin Rd., Fort Gratiot, MI 48059,
- Port Huron, Office of the City Clerk, 10 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060,
- Port Huron Township, 3800 Lapeer Rd., Port Huron, MI 48060,
- MDOT Region Office, 18101 W. Nine Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48075,
- MDOT Bureau of Transportation Planning, 425 Ottawa St., Lansing, MI 48909,
- MDOT Port Huron Transportation Service Center, 2127 11th Ave., Port Huron, MI 48060,
- St. Clair County Library, 210 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron, MI 48060, and
- St. Clair County Planning Office, St. Clair County Bldg., 20 Grand River Ave., Port Huron, MI 48060.
The 30-day waiting period for the Blue Water Bridge Plaza Study FEIS will close on May 4, 2009.
Substantive new comments will be responded to in the Record of Decision. Written comments may be submitted to: Robert Parsons, Public Involvement Hearings Officer, Bureau of Transportation Planning, Michigan Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 30050, Lansing, Michigan 48909; Phone: 517-373-9534; Fax: 517-373-9255; or e-mail: parsonsb@michigan.gov. All comments must be received on or before May 4, 2009.
MDOT: Working to improve our state roads and bridges.
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