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Appendix C-1
February 2011
Project No. 0092352
Prepared for:
BP WIND ENERGY
310 Fourth Street, N.E.
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Prepared By:
GREENMAN-PEDERSEN, INC.
80 Wolf Road
Suite 300
Albany, NY 12205
GREENMAN-PEDERSEN, INC.
ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES
The proposed Cape Vincent Wind Power Project (the project) consists of the
development of a 135 megawatt (MW) wind turbine facility that includes the
construction of 84 General Electric (GE) 1.6 MW wind turbine generators
(WTGs) in the Town of Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, New York.
The potential impacts to traffic and transportation will almost entirely occur
during the construction phase of the project. The short-term impacts are expected
to last through the 7 – 9 month construction season. The impacts expected during
operation of the facilities will consist of approximately 10 full time employees
who will perform operational and maintenance duties which will have a minimal
impact to the surrounding roadway network.
This report documents the analysis conducted and provides recommendations for
improvements to the road network to accommodate the transportation of WTG
components to the project site.
The evaluation of haul routes and the identification of needed modifications will
reflect, among other things, the vehicle size, weight and type required to transport
the various components of the wind turbines. Although the final turbine model
has not been determined, all indications are pointing towards the GE model 1.6-
100. Therefore, for the purposes of this assessment it was assumed that GE model
1.6-100 turbines will be used for the Cape Vincent Wind Energy Project.
B. Design Vehicle
Based on available GE specifications, the 1.6-100 model turbine has a hub height
of 262 feet and a blade length of approximately 160 feet. Design criteria for
transportation related activities were based on WTG component dimensions and
the specialized transportation vehicles needed to deliver those components. GPI
contacted multiple logistics companies specializing in the transportation of WTG
components who provided estimates for vehicle sizes and weights based upon
industry experience and the anticipated loads. Table 3-1 provides estimates of
gross weight and dimensions for various WTG components.
The table indicates that the vehicles used to transport the tower sections and
blades have the longest wheelbase and therefore, have the most significant impact
to intersections due to the need to accommodate the large turning radius. It was
determined that the tower vehicle will require the most temporary intersection
improvements for turning movements however, the blade overhang on the
transport vehicles was considered and the swing clearance required at
intersections is indicated on the intersection impact diagrams. The exhibit below
shows the two design vehicles used to evaluate intersection impacts.
C. Design Criteria
Design criteria was established based on the WTG component dimensions, weight
and the transport vehicles that would be required to accommodate such OS/OW
loads. Table 3-2 indicates the design criteria established for the OS/OW loads
necessary for the development of each WTG location.
Erecting the towers and assembling the WTG’s will require cranes with a capacity
between 300 and 750 tons, depending on the selected turbine. Estimates indicate
that approximately 20 truckloads would be required for assembly, including
OS/OW loads. It is expected that the cranes will remain within the project area for
the duration of construction.
It is estimated that with components, foundation and road materials, each wind
turbine generator would require approximately 100 truck shipments, some of
which will be OS/OW. During construction, a peak of approximately 150 – 200
workers will be on site at any given time. It is anticipated that the workers will be
bused from a central location to individual construction sites.
The OS/OW components are expected to have the greatest impact and traditional
construction vehicles are expected to have little impact on roadways or
intersections.
Transportation logistics for the project will require a substantial effort early in the
planning process through the construction of the wind turbine sites. Issues such as
the regular flow of oversized equipment and vehicles on the local roadway
network, workforce transportation within the project area, temporary closure or
traffic restrictions on roadways being improved to handle overweight and
oversized vehicles, and the temporary closures or traffic restrictions in order to
cross area roadways with utility lines will need planning to minimize disruptions
to motorists and local residents. The movement of equipment and materials to the
project area during construction will cause a relatively short-term increase in the
traffic levels on local roadways during the 7-9 month long construction period.
The construction season is expected to coincide with increased seasonal traffic in
the area. Therefore, a construction routing plan, road improvement plan, traffic
safety plan and complaint resolution plan will be coordinated and agreed upon
prior to construction.
A. Methodology
General Electric (GE) was unable to provide the exact origin of the WTG
components at the time of the assessment. It was assumed that WTG components
will be transported from four likely origins. The four assumed origins are north
from Canada, south from the Port of Oswego, east from the Port of Ogdensburg
and from the south traveling along Interstate 81. Representatives from GPI and
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) met on November 12,
2008 to discuss the nature of the project and determine possible regional haul
routes to the proposed project area. A primary regional haul route was established
from each origin to the proposed staging area. The project area is remote in nature
so there is not an extensive transportation network capable of accommodating the
oversized loads expected. Several alternate routes, including regional routes
which utilized NYS Route 12E from the south and NYS Route 12 from the
northeast to access the project area were omitted from this assessment due to
posted bridge weight restrictions or vertical clearance restrictions which would
require extensive modifications and upgrades to bridges. The regional haul routes
established are for use by the OS/OW loads expected during construction. Typical
construction vehicles transporting equipment and material loads which are not
considered OS/OW will likely use the shortest route to the proposed staging area.
Figure 2 included at the end of this study shows an Array Plan indicating where
individual turbines will be located. It should be noted that changes to the Array
Plan may be made as a result of the permitting process.
The proposed staging area was selected based on a centralized location within the
project area and trying to minimize the number of vehicles entering the major
highways within the area. The staging area selected is located north of County
Route 4 east of the intersection with Favret Road. This location is suitable for the
proposed staging area based on the existing topography, centralized location and
other transportation related considerations. There are two temporary concrete
batch plants proposed to serve construction activities. One of the proposed
concrete batch plants is located north of County Route 4 near the intersection with
NYS 12E and the second is located east of NYS 12E near the intersection with
Fox Creek Road, both of which are indicated on Figure 2 at the end of this study.
The proposed concrete batch plants would serve construction activities in the
eastern and western portions of the project area. Additional considerations
including geotechnical and environmental will need to be evaluated before the
final location of the concrete batch plants are determined.
The regional haul routes selected avoided weight and clearance restrictions and
attempted to minimize impacts to the roadway network, intersections, motorists
and local residents while minimizing the scale of the improvements required for
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Engineering and Construction Services Traffic and Transportation Plan - Page 11
transporting OS/OW loads to the project site. Table 5-1 provides a description of
the roadways expected to be used for deliveries of OS/OW components.
The recommended regional haul routes are described on the following pages. The
hauling company selected to transport the OS/OW components will be
responsible for determining the transport vehicles, selecting the final haul and
delivery routes and obtaining the Special Hauling Permits from NYSDOT and
Jefferson County. The final route determination may deviate slightly from the
recommended regional haul and delivery routes established in this report.
A. Methodology
Several local town and county roads will be used to transport equipment and
materials, including OS/OW loads, from the staging areas to various WTG access
road locations throughout the project area. Workforce transportation within the
project area will also utilize local town and county roadways. The development of
local delivery routes considered the bridge on County Route 4 (approximately
1700 feet east of Wilson Road) which is posted for 18 tons and the delivery routes
recommend avoiding the use of this bridge for OS/OW loads. It is recognized that
this bridge has since been replaced with a new structure however, this analysis
still assumes that this bridge will not be utilized.
Some of the local roads may not be wide enough for two-way traffic when
OS/OW turbine components are being delivered to individual turbine locations.
The vehicles used to transport the lower tower sections are estimated to be
approximately 15 feet wide, which would utilize the majority of the available
pavement width on many of the county and local roadways. Roadways which are
18 feet wide or less would require additional roadway width to accommodate two-
way traffic or require that personnel be stationed at each end of the road to
prevent traffic from traveling on the road during the short period of time it takes
for the OS/OW transport vehicle to exit the roadway to the turbine location.
The individually numbered turbine locations can be seen in Figure 1 –Array Plan
included at the end of this study.
Secondary alternatives for local delivery routes were examined which included
making upgrades to the Kent’s Crossing Bridge located along County Route 4 and
creating a temporary construction road between Burnt Rock Road and NYS Route
12E which would allow OS/OW vehicles to access NYS Route 12E from the
proposed staging area without traveling around Favret Road. These options may
re-emerge as feasible alternatives as the project progresses and turbine locations
are finalized.
A. Methodology
The regional haul routes and local delivery routes were selected to minimize
weight restrictions and vertical clearance obstructions. Although efforts were also
made to minimize the impacts to intersections and roadways, it is anticipated that
several intersections and roadways will require improvements and modifications
to accommodate the OS/OW loads necessary for the construction of the WTG’s.
The modifications are expected to include intersection widening, temporary
removal of signs and structures, temporarily lifting overhead obstructions such as
utility lines, improving the structural integrity of certain roadways and extending
culverts in areas of pavement widening. There were no overpasses observed along
the proposed haul routes which would provide an overhead obstruction; however,
overhead utility lines including electric, telephone and cable television were
observed which may have to be temporarily raised, relocated or removed.
Some of the local roads which have a narrow right-of-way may have trees and
vegetation which will have to be trimmed to allow unobstructed passage of the
OS/OW loads. BP Wind Energy may need to acquire property or easements in
certain locations to perform some of the improvements required to accommodate
OS/OW vehicles.
B. Evaluation of Roadways
The state highways utilized along the regional haul routes will require little if any
improvements. The state highways are constructed with adequate pavement width
and thickness to accommodate the anticipated loads. The 2006 NYSDOT
Highway Sufficiency Ratings indicated that all state highways used along the haul
routes were in fair to good condition. Field observations confirmed that the
pavement condition of the state highways was adequate to accommodate the
OS/OW loads. Some intersections may require pavement widening, shoulder
work and utility relocation to accommodate the expected loads. If improvements
to intersections along NYS highways are required, a highway work permit will be
required to perform the necessary improvements. Obtaining a highway work
permit usually requires the applicant to submit design plans outlining existing
conditions and the proposed modifications. In addition to the plans, a hydrology
report including the drainage design and a cost estimate of the proposed work
occurring within the right-of-way may be required.
The proposed turbine locations will require that roads be constructed to gain
access from the existing public roadway network. The 16-foot wide gravel access
roads will meet the load-bearing requirements to accommodate the expected loads
including OS/OW vehicles. During construction, an additional 10 feet of roadway
material may be required on each side to accommodate additional construction
traffic and crane movement. After construction, the width of the access roads will
be reduced to 16-feet wide and the additional width will be removed and re-
established with turf. The gravel access road section will consist of a 6-inch
surface course, a 6-inch base course and a 6-inch subbase course as recommended
in the Preliminary Geotechnical Engineering Report prepared by Terracon for the
project. The materials used for access road construction will meet NYSDOT
material specifications. The access roads will be constructed on suitable,
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Engineering and Construction Services Traffic and Transportation Plan - Page 32
undisturbed native soil. A geotextile fabric may be used to separate the native
soil/fill from the base material to prevent fine soil particles from migrating into
the gravel base material to preserve the integrity of the roadway base material.
Some access roads may be constructed with roadside ditches and culverts to
encourage positive drainage away from the roadway to ensure integrity. Existing
topography and drainage features will dictate which access roads need to be
constructed with roadside ditches and culverts. The access roads will be gated
where they intersect with public roads to prevent access by the general public.
The access roads will remain in service over the life of the project. A right-of-way
width of up to 60 feet will be required along all newly constructed gravel access
roads.
The soil condition is very wet by nature in the spring and fall seasons in the
project area. In cold regions such as this, soils routinely experience freeze-thaw
cycles during the change in season. The frost melting cycle can cause non-
uniform heave and loss of soil strength. In an effort to extend the construction
season, gravel access road design should consider the use of biaxial geosynthetic
reinforcement grids. The use of biaxial geogrids would strengthen subgrade soils
through mechanical interlock and increase effective bearing capacity by spreading
the downward traffic load horizontally over a wider area. In addition the biaxial
geogrid will counter differential heave forces caused by the frost melting cycle
coming from below.
C. Evaluation of Intersections
The unusually large WTG components require a larger footprint and vertical
clearance than is typically available at most intersections. The presence of traffic
signals along the route could also present an obstruction to OS/OW vehicles. A
list of traffic signals identified along the proposed routes is provided in Table 7-2.
The signals may present height restrictions and should be checked to determine if
they need to be temporarily or permanently raised.
The unusual length of WTG components will cause a large geometric impact to
intersections along the proposed haul routes. Certain WTG components when
combined with the transport vehicles can reach lengths up to 195 feet long. The
specialized transportation vehicles will include trailers that have the capability to
steer the rear axles. Articulating rear axles reduce the required turning radius
which in turn reduces the impacts to intersection geometry. GPI utilized
AUTOTURN ver. 7.0 by Transoft Solutions to model the anticipated truck
movements to determine the impacts to intersections along the haul route.
Culverts in close proximity to intersections may need to be extended due to
pavement widening. Several intersections from state, county and local town roads
will require pavement widening, shoulder work, utility relocation and selective
clearing of vegetation to accommodate the large turning radius required for WTG
components. In many instances temporary or permanent easements may be
required to perform the necessary modifications to the intersections.
The evaluation of regional haul routes and local delivery routes considered
buildings and other large structures. Routes were modified to avoid impacting any
buildings or large structures located near intersections.
Maps 1 & 2 provides a key for the intersections that were evaluated as part of this
transportation study and intersection Locations 1-31 indicate the potential
intersection impacts which can be expected to accommodate the transportation of
OS/OW WTG components to the project location.
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Engineering and Construction Services Traffic and Transportation Plan - Page 34
GREENMAN-PEDERSEN
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
GPI
80 WOLF ROAD
SUITE 300
ALBANY, NY 12205
GREENMAN-PEDERSEN
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
GPI
80 WOLF ROAD
SUITE 300
ALBANY, NY 12205