ALTERNATIVES

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ALTERNATIVE C: PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE – RESURFACING, RESTORATION, REHABILITATION, AND REALIGNMENT

Under this alternative, the road would be improved as described in alternative B. Additionally, approximately 1.5 miles of roadway—the switchbacks—would be flattened (widen the turning radius), requiring construction on roadless land adjacent to the existing road. The tight radii of the switchbacks create operational difficulties for large vehicles, including snowplows and long recreational vehicles. The new alignment would widen the curves and lengthen sight distance (figure 6).

The road grade would be maintained at approximately 6.5%. The centerline of the lower curve would be moved approximately 164 feet (50 meters) to the west, and the centerline of the upper curve would shift approximately 150 feet (45 meters) to the east. The abandoned road alignment would be restored. Along the upper switchback (southern switchback) the slope would be steepened to 1.5:1 to avoid the revetment wall, otherwise the slope would remain at 2:1. Tree wells would be installed around six trees over 10-feet tall (Western pine (P. monticola) or Sugar pine (P. lambertiana)), at or near the toe of the fill slope to protect them.