[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30470-30471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4876]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Environmental Impact Statement; Humboldt County, CA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION:  Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is republishing this notice to advise the public that 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for the 
proposed highway project along U.S. Highway (Highway) 101 in Humboldt 
County, in the Cities of Eureka and Arcata, and the unincorporated area 
between the two cities, California. The original Notice of Intent (NOI) 
was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2001, (Volume 66, 
Number 170, Pages 46061 & 46062). The NOI is being republished due to 
project changes of adding roadway rehabilitation work and new 
alternatives to the proposed project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leland Dong, Team Leader--North 
Region, Federal Highway Administration, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 4-100, 
Sacramento, CA 95814-4708, telephone (916) 498-5860 or Kim Floyd, 
California Department of Transportation Project Manager, P.O. Box 3700, 
Eureka, CA 95502-3700, telephone (707) 441-5739.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: U.S. Highway 101 is part of the National 
Highway System and is a principal arterial route. The route is often 
referred to as the ``lifeline of the North Coast'' since it is the 
California north coast's most important interregional route, serving as 
the connector to the Santa Rosa/San Francisco metropolitan areas to the 
south and the State of Oregon to the north. It is heavily used for the 
transportation of intercity/intestate commerce as well as being the 
principal route to many north coast recreational areas including State 
and National parks, rivers, ocean fishing, and beach areas. North of 
San Francisco, it is the second most heavily traveled non-freeway 
segment on Highway 101 within California.
    The proposed project limits extend from just north of the Eureka 
Slough Bridge in the City of Eureka to the 11th Street over crossing in 
the City of Arcata along the Highway 101 corridor from KP 128.6 to KP 
138.9 (PM 79.9 to PM 86.3) in Humboldt County. The existing Highway 101 
corridor within these limits consists of two one-way arterials, a four-
lane expressway, and a four-lane freeway.
    The proposed Eureka-Arcata Corridor Improvement Project consists of 
the following:
     Realign and signalize Airport Road/Highway 101,
     Realign the intersection of Jacobs Road with Airport Road,
     Construct a third northbound lane from Cole Avenue to Mid 
City Motors,
     Close median crossings and acceleration and deceleration 
lanes (remove existing pavement) at Mid City Motors, Green Diamond 
sawmill, Bracut, and Bayside Cutoff,
     Construct a compact diamond interchange at Indianola 
Cutoff,
     Extend existing right side acceleration and deceleration 
lanes,
     Reconstruct access ramps at existing Highway 101/Route 255 
Interchange,
     Pave median and install concrete barrier from South G 
Street to 11th Street in Arcata,
     Replace southbound Jacoby Creek Bridge,
     Widen northbound Jacoby Creek and Gannon Slough bridges 
for standard shoulder widths and upgraded bridge rails,
     Provide minor shoulder widening,
     Place shoulder backing material,
     Overlay pavement with asphalt concrete (AC) with open 
graded AC surfacing,
     Install thrie-beam median barrier from Eureka Slough 
Bridge to Airport Road,
     Install upgraded lighting,
     Replace tide gates and,
     Remove all trees not currently protected by barrier, 
within nine meters (30-feet) of the Highway 101 edge of traveled way 
(white pavement stripes) within the project limits.

    Letters describing the proposed action and soliciting comments will 
be sent to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and to 
private organizations and citizens who have previously expressed or are 
known to have an interest in this proposal.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are addressed and all significant issues identified, comments 
and suggestions are invited from all interested parties. The views of 
agencies, which may have knowledge about historic resources potentially 
affected by the proposal or interest in the effects of the proposal on 
historic properties, are specifically solicited. Comments or questions 
concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be directed to the 
FHWA at the address previously provided in this notice:

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research,

[[Page 30471]]

Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive 
Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental consultation Federal 
programs and activities apply to this program)

    Issued on: May 18, 2006.
Leland W. Dong,
Project Development Engineer, California Division, Federal Highway 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 06-4876 Filed 6-25-05; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-M