East End Connector

RS&H served as the lead consultant in the preparation of environmental review documents and traffic impact analyses for a new freeway-to-freeway connection in the City of Durham, North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is proposing to construct a new highway facility referred to as the East End Connector that will provide a much needed connection between two highway corridors in the Triangle region. RS&H provided traffic engineering, highway design evaluation, environmental impact analyses, and public involvement coordination.

The East End Connector project required the preparation of documentation for the NEPA/404 Merger process in compliance with local, state, and federal agency regulations for the re-evaluation of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that was updated for the project. The re-evaluation of the EIS resulted in the performance of an Environmental Assessment by RS&H. The project also required the evaluation of stream crossings, wetland impacts, and possible bridge options as part of the hydraulics analysis for the East End Connector.

An extensive community involvement program ensured that the project was accepted by surrounding neighborhoods. This included newsletters in both English and Spanish, a website, and a hotline for distributing information. In addition, the team conducted a series of community workshops and attended neighborhood meetings to ensure that all residents and businesses had an opportunity to participate in the process.

The final design included maintenance of traffic plans, including numerous traffic shifts onto onsite detours for interchange reconstruction, railroad bridge construction, and grade separated cross roads. Traffic control devices along with temporary shoring, drainage, and pavement are being utilized to ensure work zone safety.