Federal Land Transfer - Request for Concurrence
Requesting Office: Washington Division Office, Olympia, WA
Project: Wildcat Creek Bridge, US 12
Date: March 22, 2017
Requestor: Dave Leighow, ROW Manager
Purpose: The purpose of this request is to obtain concurrence from the Office of Real Estate Services in the Washington Division Office's determination that the Wildcat Bridge project on US 12 in centraI Washington has a strong Federal transportation interest, consistent with 23 CFR 710.601( ). Following is a description of the project and the reasons why it has significant interest for FHWA:
Project Description: The Wildcat Creek Bridge is located in central Washington on US 12 (National Highway System) at milepost 166, approximately 25 miles west of the town of Naches and 1 miles east of the White Pass summit. The bridge was constructed in 1936 and has undergone multiple repairs including bridge rail retrofit, curb repair and continuous structural repair. So far, this year, we have spent approximately $50,000 to repair various structural problems including blow-throughs of the deck. This is a multi-span bridge consisting of a concrete deck, three spans, two timber trussed approach spans, a center steel girder span, concrete columns, and concrete spread footings. WSDOT is currently contemplating a speed reductioand one lane configuration until additional repairs can be made or the bridge is replaced.
Federal lnterest: US 12 is an important high-speed, two-lane rural highway for long-distance travel on the NHS, and is a valuable year-round mountain pass highway that provides a vital connection between the Yakima Valley and the 1-5 corridor. US 12 also serves the irrigated agricultural an1 rural-residential land uses near Naches and throughout the Yakima Valley. It also provides onnections to SR 410, Chinook Pass, Cayuse Pass, and Mount Rainier National Park. US 12 is a secondary freight route, but has an important statewide freight function as an Alternative to 1-90 Snoqualmie Pass and is one of only 4 cross state routes open year round. From SR 123 to SR 410, US 12 is designated as a National Scenic Byway. It is also important or access to numerous recreational areas including national forest lands and wilderness are s as well as National Parks and Nation Monuments. It also provides access to the recently expanded White Pass Ski Area.
Need for FHWA Action: This project qualifies for a Categorical Exclusion under 23 CFR 771.117(c)(5) and could move forward under our regulations. However, if the necessary transfer of Iand under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service is processed directly between WSOOT and the USFS, the USFS does not have the same CE exclusion that we have and will require additio al work. At this point in time, that will delay the project and is expected to result in reducing the facility to a single lane and, depending upon conditions next winter, may require signific nt rerouting of traffic.
Your concurremce in the WA Division Office's determination is respectfully requested:
Arnold Feldman, Acting Director
Office of Real Estate Services
