Final Environmental Assessment for the Bridge Replacement and Scour Protection Measures at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida
Abstract
Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR) is the largest bombing and gunnery range east of the Mississippi River. Located in central Florida in Polk and Highlands counties, APAFR provides an important training facility for active duty, guard, and reserve military units from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. APAFR has two main roads that lead to training and ordnance impact ranges; H.R. Smith Grade and the Kissimmee Road. Each road has one bridge that are the subject of this environmental assessment (EA). H.R. Smith Grade Bridge requires entire replacement and scour protection measures, while the Kissimmee Road/Rim Canal Bridge requires only scour protection measures. The Proposed Action considered two alternatives. Alternative 1 would replace a steel span bridge, the H.R. Smith Grade Bridge traversing over Morgan Hole Creek, with a similar bridge having the same dimensions and load capacity. Riprap would be placed around the bridge to minimize scouring by the water flow of the creek. A second bridge, the Kissimmee Road/Rim Canal Bridge traversing over the Rim Canal, would have riprap placed around its footings to prevent channel scouring that is currently undermining the bridge. Both work sites would require damming and dewatering. Alternative 2 would remove the steel span bridge and replaced it with a seven culvert system. The second bridge would have the same riprap treatment as with Alternative 1. Replacing the H.R. Smith Grade Bridge would require a road closure of H.R. Smith Grade for up to 90 days for both Alternatives 1 and 2. It would offer a detour on Kissimmee Road that would add about one half hour of vehicle travel time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA604457
Entities
Organizations
- Tetra Tech