Project Name

Project Number
NPS PMIS #

Project Technical Memorandum

(XX% Design)

by A/E Firm for

Federal Highway Administration
Central Federal Lands Highway Division

Date
Introduction and Project Scope
The CO FLAP US50(1), Little Blue Creek Canyon Project is located on U.S. Route 50, between
Gunnison, CO (33 miles) and Montrose, CO (30 miles). This project will focus on the segment
of US 50 between mile post 122.9 and 127.1 The proposed improvements include; roadway
realignment for improved geometry and clear zone, curve widening (to the extent practical),
wider paved shoulders, improved rock fall catchment, bridge repair, new drainage structures,
guardrail, and updated permanent signing and striping.

Scope Revisions (Major Revisions from Previous Submittal and Reasons for
Change)

Revisions from 95% Submittal

• The asphalt depth was changed from 3” to 4”.

• The aggregate base depth was changed from 6” to 5”.

• Additional wetland mitigation areas were added and measures were adjusted.

• No horizontal or vertical adjustments were made.

• The material source plan was refined.

• The USFS will need to provide all funds for Option X – toilet vault.

Revisions from 70% Submittal

• Minor adjustments were made to the alignment and profile in two locations to
better fit the topography and minimize impacts.

• Rock buttress, subexcavation and underdrains were reviewed and small

adjustments in limits were identified.

• A potential material source was identified at station 72+00 Lt, test pits will be
made and analyzed for suitability.

• An option for installation of a toilet vault at the Vista Road parking area will be
added, with the USFS to provide matching funds.

Revisions from 30% Submittal

The following general strategies were applied:

• MSE walls and Rockery were eliminated by constructing embankment fill slopes,
and/or cutting into cut slopes.

• Ditches were widened to 10ft in select locations, to provide rock fall containment.
 • Roadway alignment was refined to fit existing roadway to a greater extent in selected
areas, and to minimize wetland impacts.

• Locations of cut slopes in wet seepage areas include: installation of 5ft deep
underdrains in the ditch, cut slope protection with 5ft thick rock buttress, and selected
locations of subgrade reinforcement with geotextiles or subexcavation.

• Most of the existing culverts are 15” – 18” diameter. All existing culverts were
replaced, with a minimum diameter of 24”. Additional culverts were included. The
largest culvert required being a 42-48” diameter. Riprap aprons were included at all
pipe outlets, and selected inlets. Selected ditches will be riprap lined based on current
erosion.

• In areas of re-alignment, the old roadway will be obliterated and re-contoured to the
surrounding terrain and reseeded. Some areas will be blocked from public access with
boulders or berms.

Revisions from Scoping

• N/A

PS&E Deliverables
Please review all the PS&E deliverables. Extra consideration should be taken for the
following:

 Plans:
o Any details from a maintenance perspective, traffic control plans, etc.

 Specifications:
o 105: Staging area locations, material and water sources

o 107: Project specific environmental commitments and restrictions, fire plan

o 108: Work restrictions, holidays and local events, completion date

o 156: Allowable delays and closures

o 625 and 713: Seed mix, seeding dates

 Estimate:
o Any high risk, high dollar pay items. Are the unit prices in alignment with
local/regional trends and history?

o Any CBUPA performed and any anticipated unit price verifications at pending
milestones.
  Other (Technical Reports, Structure Criteria Memo, HDS, requests for Partner
Approval, etc.)
• Final geotechnical report completed and included in this 70% PSE submittal.
Includes recommendations for bridge foundations and slope scaling. County to
review and provide feedback on extent of proposed scaling.

• Highway Design Memo and Partner Concurrence on Plans are included in this
submittal. Please review both and barring additional comments, provide your
concurrence.

• FHWA-CFLHD led NEPA has been completed. Categorical Exclusion is included

for reference.

Project Specific Risks

Description of Risk Date or Status

Milestone (How is risk being mitigated, actions or decisions needed, and
Risk was responsible party)
Identified

ROW acquisition FHWA-CFLHD has provided ROW exhibits and descriptions

from 3 private for needed ROW. County to assess fair market value and
parcels negotiate acquisition with landowners. Bimonthly status calls
Scoping between FHWA-CFLHD are occurring. County has indicated
anticipated ROW certification by April 15, 2024. Med risk.
Project obligation and advertisement scheduled for summer
2024.

New fiberoptic line Post NEPA, the white bark pine tree was listed as a T&E
95%
identified species. FHWA-CFLHD to lead coordination with FS and FWS
Field
on impacts and need to reinitiate Section 7 consultation. Expect
Review
determination prior to 95%. Low risk, being mitigated.
Construction Cost Estimate

Date of Program Escalation Escalated Causes of Major Changes

Milestone
Milestone Year Rate Used Estimate

Scoping 5/11/2017 2019 4% $15,704,740

Added new parking area and

pullouts, potential wall for
30% 11/3/2017 2019 4% $18,657,910
historic pullout, more accurate
earthwork quantities

70% 4/19/2018 2019 4% $19,075,730 Updated unit prices

1/22/2019 2021 6% Inclusion of stone masonry

95% $20,723,320
wall and escalation to 2021

Inclusion of reinforced soil

slope, increased earthwork
100% 8/11/2019 2021 6% $26,842,076
from changes to the template
and updated unit prices

Sch. A:
$16,270,000 Updated unit costs to reflect
Option X: nearby project bids and
Final 7/26/2021 2021 6% $15,544,000 divided into Schedule/Options
to accommodate funding
Option Y: sources
$2,430,000

Project Schedule

Construction
PS&E
Program Duration
Milestone Delivery Causes of Major Changes
Year (days or
Year
months)

Scoping

30%

70%

95%

100%
 Fixed Assets
Fixed Asset Calculations Percentage
Asset 30% 70% 95%
Asset Name Type Description Scoping Final
Number PS&E PS&E PS&E
US 50 12346 Asset Realignment 67 64 64 64 68
Parking Area 656565 Asset New pavement 15 16 16 16 13
US14 Turn Non-
4568946 Widening 18 20 20 20 19
Lanes Asset
Totals 100 100 100 100 100

Design, Traffic and Safety Data

Refer to the HDS for Highway Design Standards documentation.

• Crash History:
Crash data was provided by CDOT in October 2016. The crash data-reporting period is
2000 to 2015; crashes were reported between mileposts 122 and 126. There was a total of
189 crashes during the reporting period: 5 fatal crashes, 56 injury crashes, and 128
property damage only (PDO) crashes. Another fatal crash was reported in 2018 within the
project limits. CFLHD has prepared a crash analysis report based on the data provided by
CDOT. See Appendix B.

• Clear Zone and Barrier Crashworthiness:

Based on the AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, the clear zone for this project is 7 feet,
except at Sta. 587+00 to Sta. 591+00 where the clear zone is 4 feet. This 400’ section of
roadway traverses through a narrow, winding area with steep cut and fill slopes in
environmentally sensitive terrain. The 4’ clear zone was chosen to minimize impacts. In
this section of roadway, advance warning signing for curvature along with pavement
markings will mitigate for the reduced clear zone and increase driver awareness.

FLH Supplemental
Design Standards
FLH Used on This
Standard Project
Clear Zone 7’ 4’
Barrier Crashworthiness TL-2 TL-2

• Bicycle Design:
Design Guidelines: AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities 2012
 Criteria Guideline As Designed Exception
1. Design Speed (AASHTO
5.2.4)
2. Width (AASHTO 5.2.1)

3. Shoulder Width (AASHTO

5.2.1)

4. Shoulder Slope (AASHTO

Figure 5-1 and 5.2.1)

5. Cross Slope (AASHTO

5.2.6

6. Horizontal Curvature
(AASHTO Table 5-2)

7. Superelevation

8. Grade (AASHTO 5.2.7)

9. Vertical Curvature
(AASHTO Figure 5-8)

10. Stopping Sight Distance

(AASHTO Table 5-4)

11. Horizontal Clearance to

Structure (not clear zone)

12. Vertical Clearance to

Obstruction (AASHTO 5.2.1)

13. Clear Zone/Horizontal

Clearance (AASHTO 5.2.1)

Descriptions of, and reasons for, exceptions to guidelines:

• ADA Design:
Accessible parking stalls with concrete drive pads meeting ABA requirements will be
provided at Sentinel Dome, Washburn Point, and Glacier Point parking areas. Slopes will
be limited to 1.8% to provide construction tolerance to meet requirements.
 For ADA compliance, the US Access Board’s Supplemental Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking titled Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-
of-Way; Shared Use Paths will be followed.

Environment/Permits
•

Right-of-Way and Utilities Coordination

• CDOT is the lead agency for ROW acquisition. Public and private lands will be impacted
by the project. CDOT has created ROW Plans and is proceeding with acquisitions. A
Highway Easement Deed is anticipated from the BLM. At the time of the 100%
submittal, one parcel of land is still being acquired. A ROW Certification is expected by
project check-in.

• There are no private landowners within the limits of this project. Private right of way
acquisition is not required for this project.

• A Highway Easement Deed (HED) will be executed to transfer right of way to the county
for the constructed route and will replace the existing Forest Roads and Trails Act
(FRTA). The Easement will vary in width. TCEs will be shown on the plans and will
cover all areas of construction that are outside of the existing FRTA and proposed limits
of the HED (slope construction and approach roads). CFL is currently waiting on the
Region 2 to issue a letter of consent.

• CDOT is the lead agency for utilities. Utilities through the project consist of overhead
power, underground telephone, a leach field and two wells. Impacts to the existing
telephone is anticipated. The existing telephone is expected to be removed by the owner,
prior to construction. As of the 100% Submittal, the utility certification forms have been
signed and documents provided in the project records.

• There are no known utilities that would be impacted by this project. The only known
utility in the project limits is an abandoned 2” diameter water line that crosses
Cottonwood Pass Road near the USFS Taylor Park Guard Station. The waterline will be
removed during construction.

• Gunnison County Electric might be installing a line from the reservoir hydro-plant to
Stage Stop Meadows (Sta 268+00RT), installation would be 3ft deep at the toe of
existing fill slope RT, safe from impacts due to roadway construction.

Non-Environmental Permits
•
Other
•

Project Cross Functional Team

Name Phone Email
Project Manager

Design

Environment/Permits

Survey

Bridge

ROW/Utilities

Safety

Geotechnical

Pavements/Materials

Hydraulics

Construction