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• CHAPTER III: ALTERNATIVES <br />lternatives South of the North Fork of the Gunnison <br />During preliminary investigations alternatives which would have re- <br />located State Highway 133 on the south side of the North Fork Valley were <br />considered and evaluated. These alternative considerations were eliminated <br />from further detailed consideration for the following reasons: <br />A highway south of the river would not serve the needs of <br />the local communities and residents along the existing <br />State Highway 133 alignment. <br />The construction costs would be considerable. <br />It would cause considerable esthetic and environmental impacts <br />in presently undisturbed areas. <br />It would create a dual highway system within the valley with <br />the County taking financial responsibility for upgrading and <br />• maintaining the existing State Highway 133 alignment. <br />Location south of the river would require additional expensive <br />bridge structures and disturbance to the North Fork River. <br />It would prohibit the use of existing highway rights-of-way <br />and require that all new highway right-of-way be purchased. <br />Unstable soils and potential geological problems would <br />introduce considerable maintenance problems into the highway <br />system. <br />Unsafe winter conditions would be created on the highway by <br />locating the roadway on the shady side of the valley, thus <br />inducing "icy" conditions to prevail. <br />The Lennox Mesa Alternative <br />Consideration was given to locating the new highway across the top of <br />Lennox Mesa and following the 6,300 foot contour on the south side of the <br />river past the Hawks Nest Mine before rejoining the existing highway. This <br />• alternative was not given further consideration for the following reasons: <br />