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Mercer County
S.R.0718, Sec. B00
Seg.0120, Off.0774
Over Shenango River
PROJECT DESCRIPTION NARRATIVE
A. INTRODUCTION AND SITE DATA
This is a Hydrologic and Hydraulic Report on a deteriorated 2 span steel
thru plate girder bridge carrying State Route 0718 over Shenango River in the
City of Sharon in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.
The purpose of this report is to obtain a water obstruction and
encroachment permit for the proposed bridge waterway opening from the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Fish
& Boat Commission. Also, a Corp of Engineers “Pennsylvania State
Programmatic General Permit-2.
1.
Location Map – (Map USGS) in the GIF Section.
This is a portion of U.S.G.S. Quadrangle (7.5 minute series) of
Sharon West, Ohio-Pennsylvania.
2.
Vicinity Map – (Map State) in the Project Description Section.
This is a portion of the Pennsylvania Official Transportation Map.
3.
Vicinity Map – (Map Type 10) in the Project Description Section.
This is a portion of a Type 10 County Map of Mercer County,
Pennsylvania.
4.
Site Plan – (Existing & Proposed Contours) in the Site Plan
Section.
This is a surveyed existing contour plan of the site.
5.
Existing Structures – (See Photo with Map section)
The upstream structure #2 is a 2 span Steel Girder Continuous
Bridge carrying Clark Street located approximately 1.0 mile
upstream from the project site. There are 2 spans of 110 feet
skewed at 67 degrees and underclearance of 14.0 feet minimum. The
High water is controlled by Shenango River Lake outlet for this
area.
The upstream structure #1 is a 2 span Steel Girder Continuous
Bridge carrying Silver Street located approximately 683 feet
upstream from the project site. There are 2 spans are 126 feet
skewed at 64 degrees and underclearance of 10.2 feet minimum.
High water is controlled by Shenango River Lake outlet for this
area.
The upstream structure will not affect the hydraulics of the
proposed structure.
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The Project site structure is a 2 span steel thru plate girder
bridge carrying S.R.0718 over Shenango River. Both normal clear
spans are 83 feet plus/minus and an average underclearance of 18.0
feet.
The downstream #1 structure is a 3 span Prestressed Adjacent Box
Beam Bridge carrying Connelly Boulevard located approximately 720
feet downstream from the project site. There are 3 spans of 68
feet skewed at 53 degrees and underclearance of 22.5 feet minimum.
High water is controlled by Shenango River Lake outlet for this
area.
The downstream #2 structure is a 2 span Prestressed Adjacent Box
Beam Bridge carrying West Budd Street located approximately 2790
feet downstream from the project site. There are 2 spans of 92
feet skewed at 75 degrees and its underclearance is 17.2 feet
minimum. High water is controlled by Shenango River Lake outlet
for this area.
6.
Available High Water Marks and Information
A Federal Emergency Management Agency, Flood Insurance Study (FIS)
is available for this location dated October 17, 1978. Shenango
River is listed and the structure is near section E-E of this
study. Section E-E shows the 100 year flood water elevation at
850.4. This 850.4 elevation needs adjusted down 0.52 foot to
849.88, this adjusted will correspond with the resent survey
completed for the project site. Reference (Flood Insurance
Study.pdf) in the Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H) Report to see the
project data in this Flood Insurance Study.
From the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FIS) the Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) was developed for this location.
Reference (Map FIRM.pdf) in the Hydrology and Hydraulics (H&H)
Report to see the project location on a portion of this (FIRM).
High water information was not acquired during the project field
survey.
7.
Environmental Effects
Shenango River is not navigable north of US-422 (1.8 miles above
the mouth of Shenango River (confluence with Beaver River) as per
Public Notice No.82-29 Dated 7 April 1982 from the US Army Corps.
of Engineers Pittsburg District. The Shenango River (outlet of
Shenango Dam downstream to Buckeye Drive Bridge ‘SR.3025’) is
listed on the Approved Trout Waters in the 2005 Edition of the
Pennsylvania Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws. The Buckeye
Drive Bridge is 3.5 miles upstream of the Project Site.
The Department of Environmental Protections, Pennsylvania Code,
Chapter 93 Water Quality Standards contain a classifications for
Shenango River as a warm water fishes (WWF) From 1.0 mile
downstream of Shenango Reservoir Dam to confluence with Mahoning
River and Trout Stocking (TSF) from Shenango Reservoir Dam to 1.0
mile downstream.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Division of Fisheries
Management, “Listing of Water having Wild Trout” does not list
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Shenango River.
Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) search form was
submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection, Northwest Regional Office. The response (PNDI search
dated 3-28-2002) indicated that potential conflicts must be
resolved for the project area. A copy of the PNDI Review request
and corresponding response is in the PNDI Search section. A resent
search dated August 25, 2005 by Tim Scripko resulted with the
Potential conflict that must be resolved with the Pennsylvania
Fish and Boat Commission.
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission requested (May 8, 2002) a
mussel survey be conducted. The Fresh Water Mussel Species Survey
was conduced June 21, 2002. The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat
Commission reviewed the Fresh Water Mussel Species Survey July 19,
2002 and anticipated no significant direct impacts to rare mussel
species, and no additional mussel survey for this project is
necessary.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (July 19, 2002) reviewed the
Fresh Water Mussel Species Survey was conduced June 21, 2002 and
concluded that construction of this project will have no permanent
or temporary impacts on riverine habitats that the clubshell or
northern riffleshell could occupy.
Correspondence with the Pennsylvania Game Commission June 14, 2005
indicated that no threatened species are known to occur within the
proposed project area. Reference (pgc.pdf) in the PNDI Search/PNDI
Results section for a copy of the Pennsylvania Game Commission
reply.
Correspondence with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
commission (PHMC) Bureau for Historic Preservation indicated that
project 1916 bridge would be considered a contributing structure
in this late 19th and early 20th century commercial district. Also
PHMC concur that no archaeological investigations are necessary in
this project area. A study was conducted by a consultant to
determine the effects of the bridge replacement in the project
site. The final Determination of effect report was submitted to
Bureau of Environmental Quality for approval and impact pending. A
review of the final determination of effect was done by the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum commission (PHMC) and states
that ‘this project will adversely effect the historic and
architectural qualities that make the property eligible.’ As
Downtown Sharon Historic District. PHMC concurs with the proposed
mitigation for this project and to prepare a Memorandum of
Agreement.
Shenango River is not listed on the Pennsylvania Scenic River
System.
All pollution control measures and other safety precautions will
be adhered to during the construction of the new structure.
Refer to the Environmental Assessment Form (EA) for further
details on environmental concerns.
8.
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Debris and Ice
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The stream is flanked on both sides by flood walls. There exists
some potential for debris accumulation at this structure. The
formation of ice at this site will not change the effectiveness of
the structure or the stream flow. The proposed replacement
structure is utilizing the existing abutments as flood wall
continuity. The under-clearance (waterway opening) and the channel
length under the structure will be approximately the same.
9.
Nature of Streambed and Bank Stability
The streambed is composed of gravel, sand and large cobble. The
stream banks are concrete flood walls. The banks are relatively
stable.
10.
Water Stage Factors
There are two Reservoirs (Pymatuning Reservoir 167 square miles
and Shenango River Lake Reservoir 591.1 square miles) in the
drainage area (approximately 97% of the drainage area flows into
these reservoirs) outlet controls do affect the natural stream
stage. Dam break possibility would inundated the structure. The
project area is not within any flood control structure.
11.
Site Inspection Information
Members of the District 1-0 Bridge Unit made a field inspection of
the subject bridge site. The drainage area consists of 30%
forest, 7% reservoirs area, 2.7% developed, 45.3% contoured
pasture/field areas and 15% Active Agricultural areas. The
existing structure is located within the City of Sharon with
buildings and parking lots near the structure. The main drainage
area is controlled by two reservoirs [1} Pymatuning State Park and
2} Shenango River Lake]. Shenango River Lake is 5 miles upstream
from the project site. The City of Sharon is working on a
Revitalization Plan with expectation of growth potential. No
change in hydrologic characteristics is expected to occur within
the life span of the new bridge.
12.
Line and Grade
The grade and alignment of the roadway will be the same as that of
the existing structure.
13.
Skew of Crossing and Bridge Position
The proposed structure will have the same structure centerline,
stationing and skew of the existing. See (Preliminary Plan and
Elevation) in the Site Plan section.
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