Preferred Alternative

Lewis Creek at Quinlan Bridge Project, Charlotte, VT

EROSION AND FLOOD

SEQUENCE # BENEFITS
REDUCTION COMPONENTS*
Improve floodplain connection to provide
increase in ice shed and water storage area
Remove 2-foot tall berm along
to reduce pressure on bridge. Flood
1 Spear Street to the north of Quinlan
velocities decrease on bend approaching
Bridge
bridge that reduce erosion potential along
Spear Street.
Replace deteriorating small bridge to improve
Enlarge small bridge under Spear drainage from floodplain. The structure
2 for 1 to 2 years of settling prior to regularly
Street to the west of Quinlan Bridge would be designed to improve passage of
aquatic organisms and wildlife.
COSTS
Approximately 1 day of excavation time.
Periodic road closures during peak flooding
will continue until ice jam releases and flood
recedes.
Grant funding would be sought from federal
and state agencies. Structure, installation,
engineering, and permitting could cost
approximately $80,000.
IMPLEMENTATION
Short and simple construction effort would be
performed by Town crew in 2010. Site
stabilization with seed and mulch, and
shrubs.
Seek to improve the small bridge and allow
scheduled road resurfacing in 2015.

Roadway surface would be lowered during

Lower Spear Street 1.5 feet to the
3 north of Quinlan Bridge and armor
new embankment
Roadway closures could increase during regularly scheduled resurfacing in 2015.
Improve floodplain connection to provide
peak flooding until ice jam releases and flood Schedule may want to be expedited if
increase in ice shed and water storage area.
recedes. Cost of road milling is material from the Town pit is to be used for
Flood water surface elevations lower along
approximately $10,000. Cost of armor to possible road base improvements prior to the
Spear Street. Flood velocities and erosion
protect lowered roadway and embankment pit closing in 3 years. Posts or guard rail
potential decrease at bridge.
along river is approximately $30,000. design able to pass ice to be installed 25 feet
upstream from existing guard rail.

Roadway closures could increase during

Lower Spear Street 1.5 feet to the
4
west of Quinlan Bridge
peak flooding until ice jam releases and flood Roadway surface would be lowered during
Improves storage and conveyance around recedes. Lowering both sides of Spear Street regularly scheduled resurfacing in 2015.
bridge to provide greater velocity and erosion would require traffic detours during peak Schedule may want to be expedited if
potential reduction at bridge. Flood water flooding. Cost of road milling is material from the Town pit is to be used for
surface elevations lower along Spear Street. approximately $10,000. Cost of armor to possible road base improvements prior to the
protect lowered roadway and embankment is pit closing in 3 years.
approximately $2,000.

*Although not part of this project, two additional flood protection measures were brought up during landowner meetings that are recommended for implementation. Following removal of the
berm along Spear Street, riprap is recommended upstream where Lewis Creek flows directly into the tall eroding roadway embankment. The riprap should only be placed on the lower bank
and extended up the bank to cover the regular winter ice level plus 1 foot. In addition, some structural deficiencies were noted on the right abutment of Quinlan Bridge. Spalled and cracked
concrete are apparent and it appears that some undermining may be taking place. An assessment and restoration of the right abutment are recommended to protect the bridge.
 Preliminary Alternatives Analysis
Lewis Creek, Quinlan Bridge Area, Charlotte, VT

OBJECTIVES=>
Reduce risk of Reduce risk of Improve
Protect historic Naturalize local Improve local
annual ice jam non-ice, large floodplain- Ballpark cost
# ALTERNATIVES Quinlan Covered sediment and habitat quality Notes
flooding and storm flooding channel opinion*
Bridge debris transport and stability
erosion and erosion connection
Elevation of bridge and roadways relative to
Lewis Creek provides some relief for ice jam
1 No action 0
and larger flooding. Overtopping of roadway
approaching bridge currently takes place.
Improve existing connection to wetland to
provide more ice storage. Design needs to
Reconnect U/S left bank wetland
2
near Lewis Creek Road
√ √ √ 10 ensure that channel will not migrate/avulse to
the left of the bedrock outcrop at the upstream
end of split channel.
Improves wetland connection to provide small
increase in ice shed and water storage area.
Remove 2-foot tall berm along Periodic road closures during peak flooding will
3
Spear Street north of Quinlan Bridge
√ √ √ √ √ √ 5
take place, slightly more than existing
conditions, while water recedes and ice is
removed.
Larger structure would replace deteriorating
Remove berm along Spear Street
small bridge and would improve drainage from
north of Quinlan Bridge and enlarge
4
small bridge under Spear Street
√ √√ √ √ √ √ 85 floodplain with enhanced connection. The
structure would be designed to improve
west of Quinlan Bridge
passage of aquatic organisms and wildlife.
Improves wetland connection to provide
moderate increases in ice shed and water
Remove berm along Spear Street
storage area. Roadway surface could be
5 and lower roadway 1.5 feet to the √√ √√ √√ √√ √√ √ 50
lowered during resurfacing by removing old
north of Quinlan Bridge
asphalt. Roadway closures could increase
while ice is removed and floods recede.

Improves storage and conveyance around

Remove berm along Spear Street,
bridge to provide greater pressure relief during
lower roadway north of Quinlan
6
Bridge, and lower roadway 1.5 feet √√√ √√√ √√√ √√ √√ √ 80 flooding. Water velocity at the bridge would
decrease substantially. Lowering both roads
to the west of Quinlan Bridge
would require traffic detours during flood events.

Combination alternatives to improve floodplain

Combination - reconnect wetland, connection to provide increases in ice shed and
lower berm, lower Spear north of water storage area. These alternatives can be
7
Quinlan Bridge, and enlarge small
√√ √√ √√ √√ √√ √ 145
implemented incrementally as normal
bridge on tributary maintenance work is required on the roadways
and small bridge, and funding is available.

*The ballpark cost opinion is presented in thousands of dollars. Approximate costs do not consider mobilization, erosion control, traffic control, and other construction services that could be up to $15,000 for each item if pursued
individually. Incorporating the proposed activities into scheduled maintenance can substantially reduce these costs, as will pursuing multiple alternatives at the same time.