Widening of SR3/US 41

This project entails widening a 1.65-mile section of SR3/US 41 to provide a multilane facility from SRI 56 to the Calhoun Bypass. Additionally, the intersection of SRI 56 (Red Bud Road) and SR 3 extends eastward approximately 267 m and will be widened and will undergo improvements. The proposed project will widen the existing road between the above termini resulting in an urban section with four 12-foot lanes, two in each direction. The project will also consist of a 20-foot raised median within a right-of-way (ROW) of a least 120-feet. Widening will occur on appropriate sides to minimize property damage. Major structures will be widened or replaced to accommodate the roadway section. The APE for the project includes everything within the proposed construction project length and within the maximum extent of the existing ROW as described above.  Formerly, soils fell under the Rarden silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, soil series. However, due to severe modifications, the soils are highly eroded and disturbed and are currently classified as Urban Land. The original topography of the project area consisted of side slopes, ridge tops, and ridge noses; however, because of severe construction, grading, and road modifications, the topography is now relatively flat. Groundcover consists of graded areas, curbsides, and sidewalks, paved with asphalt and gravel. The most common forms of vegetation include planted young pines, planted grasses, scrub, and kudzu. Land use in the project APE consists mainly of commercial business developments and modem residential houses/mobile homes. Roads, driveways, paved right-of-ways, curbsides, sidewalks, and commercial construction/development have contributed to soil disturbance in all portions of the project APE. Landscaping around commercial businesses and residential subdivisions to the north, east, south, and west of SR3/US 41 have heavily contributed to soil disturbance. Shovel testing was not possible due to the disturbed nature of the project area (i.e. previously disturbed areas of road, parking lots, and/or sidewalk construction). Because the project area has previously been graded and/or landscaped, a pedestrian survey was undertaken over the APE. Previously Recorded Sites: There are no previously recorded sites within the project corridor. Seven sites exist within one kilometer of the project corridor. These include 9GO192, 900194, 9GO197, 9GO207, 9GO208, 9GO209, and 9GO225. None of these sites will be affected by the proposed undertaking. There are three archaeological reports of negative findings located within one-kilometer of the project corridor. One of these, GASF Report 3699 prepared in August of 2006 by Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. contained a surveyed intersection at the beginning of the APE. No sites were recorded.