2006-06-12_REVISION - M1978314 (2)

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FELSBURG ~i H O LT & ULLEVIG engineering paths to transportation solutions April 25, 2005 Mr. Carl Luppens Nordic Land Company One South Dahlia Street Denver, Colorado 80246 RE: King Mountain Gravel Mine Routt County, Colorado FHU Reference No. 05-079 Dear Mr. Luppens: At your request, Felsburg Holt & Ullevig has investigated traffic and roadway aspects of the proposed King Mountain Gravel Mine, located to the west of Toponas in Routt County, Colorado. We visited the site and reviewed the roadway network in the field on April 20, 2005. We have also reviewed various documents that have been provided to Routt County related to the proposed mine and have researched other documents related to gravel roads. Two documents are particularly important to this review: the memorandum to the Planning Department prepared by Ms. Heather R. McLaughlin (Assistant Routt County Engineer) on February 23, 2005 and the traffic impact study (King Mountain Sand and Gravel Mine. Routt County. Colorado) prepared by LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc. on March 8, 2005. This edition of the traffic report is based on 100,000 tons of aggregate per year, whereas an earlier version (February 8, 2005) was based on 250,000 tons per year. Our review of the two LSC reports shows that the sRe-generated traffic has been proportioned down to 40°k of the previous forecasts. In general, our investigations confirm the recommendations contained in the McLaughlin memorandum. These recommendations include widening and paving CR 5 and replacing two existing, substandard bridges. Although not specifically mentioned in the McLaughlin memorandum, improvements are needed at the CR 3/CR 5 intersection. The analyses of the LSC study appear to be generally correct but are limited to the intersection of SH 131 and CR 5. We believe that a left turn acceleration lane should be considered at the intersection of SH 131 and County Road (CR) 5 in addition to other recommended improvements. In addition, we have questions about the current level of mine activity, based on our field visit. SH 131/CR S Intersection The focus of the LSC traffic impact study is solely on the intersection of SH 131 and CR 5. The study does not address traffic impacts or improvement needs on CR 5. The forecasting methodology and analyses found in the LSC study are generally sound and conservative. LSC conducted peak hour turning movement counts at the SH 131/CR 5 intersection and counted traffic on CR 5 (83 vehicles per day) in September 2004. Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) traffic records show a 2004 annual average daily traffic (AADT) volume of 1,400 vehicles per day (vpd) on SH 131 south of the SH 134 intersection and 900 vpd north 6300 South Syrncuse Way, Suite 600 Centennial, CO A0111 rel 303.721.1440 fax 303.7? L0332 u~~.Flturng.com infuCatlhurn~.aror