Laserfiche WebLink
CHAPTERTWO Alternatives <br />can be no more than 2 percent, so topographic restrictions must be considered to minimize the <br />amount of required cuts and fills. <br />Alternative 5 <br />This alternative is the most practical from several standpoints. Topographically, it does not have <br />more than a 2-percent grade and minimizes the necessity for cut and fill. This alternative has <br />purposefully reduced impacts on wetlands by avoiding 3 acres of wetlands. Further description <br />of this alignment and the revisions made to the originally proposed alignment are included in the <br />proposed action (Section 2.10.1) and shown on Figure 1-1, Proposed Action. <br />This alternative is the proposed action for the rail alignment and will be further analyzed in detail <br />in this Draft EIS (DEIS). <br />Other Rail Alignments <br />Other rail alignments, such as County Road (CR) X/East Salt Creek and Dorchester alignments <br />are shown on Figure 2-2, Proposed Rail Alignments, and discussed in Table 2-2, Alternatives <br />Considered Summary. <br />No rail alignment other than the proposed action will be further analyzed in this DEIS. <br />2.3.3 RailroadlHighway Crossings <br />The railroad alignment that is part of the proposed action (Alternative 5) would cross public <br />roads at three locations: SH 139, CR 10, and CR M8. <br />State Highway 139 <br />A grade-separated crossing at SH 139 is proposed. SH 139 would be reconstructed to go over <br />the proposed railroad. <br />County Road 10 <br />An at-grade crossing for CR 10 was originally proposed. The initial alignment raised concerns <br />from the public and Mesa County because the railroad crossed the road at an unsafe angle. The <br />at-grade crossing has been realigned (Figure 2-3, County Road 10 Realignment) to cross the <br />railroad in a more perpendicular manner. <br />County Road M.8 <br />The railroad crossing of CR M.8 is proposed to be an at-grade crossing. In response to concerns <br />raised by the public and Mesa County, an alternative crossing of the rail alignment at CR M 8 <br />will be examined. This alternative includes agrade-separated crossing (bridge) of the railroad <br />and Mack Wash by CR M 8. This alternative is shown on Figure 2-4, County Road M 8 <br />Realignment. <br />2-6 <br />