12
inside the PUG Facility. Map 4.2-2 identifies which roads will be upgraded to 80 ft. and 100 ft.
widths and provides distances.
4.3.4 Construction Methods
The entire Miller Creek Access Route, which includes secondary roads (FS854.1 and FS
885.1A) leading from the Miller Creek Road and Warren Peak Road intersection to the PUG
Plant at Four Corners (see Map 4.2-2 – map pocket) will require upgrading to provide for safe,
year-round mining operations and traffic. This upgrading will require an 80 ft. (24.38 meters)
width to allow safe travel of over-the-road (OTR) trucks between the Mine Area and the
Hydromet Plant. Although a portion of the Miller Creek Road, near the intersection with Warren
Peak Road, may meet the design criteria for width, other safety design criteria such as grade,
turn radius, decision sight distance and stopping sight distance will require upgrade to meet
these safety design requirements. New haul roads will be constructed with a width of 100 ft.
(30.48 meters) to accommodate heavy mining equipment and haul trucks from the pit to the
waste rock disposal facility and the PUG plant.
4.3.4.1 Access Route
Stetson Engineering evaluated access road improvements and completed a prefeasibility
access road design. The study results are reported in the 2011 “
Prefeasibility Access Road
Design
” report (see Appendix C). RER will ensure that roadway intersections on the access
road have adequate turn radii and good sight distance. Any intersections improved as part of
the access route will be built with a minimum 80-ft. radius to allow haul trucks to navigate the
intersection without encroaching on the other lane of the road. The intersections of U.S.
Highway 16, Wyoming Highway 116, and U.S. Highway 14 have adequate curve radii as
currently configured. The intersection of U.S. Highway 14 and Warren Peak Road will be
reconstructed to accommodate heavy truck traffic associated with mining operations, including
widening and acceleration/deceleration lanes (see Appendix C). All road construction will
comply with appropriate Wyoming Department of Transportation (WDOT), Forest Service (Gold
Book – BLM and Forest Service, 2007), and Crook County Road and Bridge regulations.
The Miller Creek Access Route will be designed with grades under 6 percent. Areas of the route
that are relatively flat will be designed with a standard roadway crown of 3 percent to maintain
drainage and avoid ponding on the road surface. To facilitate safe passage of two-way traffic,
access roads will be widened (as needed) to include two 12-ft. driving lanes with two 4-ft.
shoulders. Total width including cut and fill will be approximately 80 ft. (24.38 meters). Access
road fore slopes and end slopes will be designed to a 4:1 minimum in all areas, with the
intention of holding 6:1 back slopes whenever possible (6:1 side slopes allow a driver who
leaves the road an opportunity to correct the travel path without losing control of the vehicle). A
10-ft. flat bottom ditch will be built to improve sight distance, provide snow storage capacity, and
create an off-road location for vehicles that may break down. The horizontal and vertical
geometry of the road will be designed to meet 40 miles per hour (mph) requirements, and the
finished road will be signed with speed limits of 30 mph to ensure safe travel. This will be
adjusted after measuring sight distances, corner radii, and finished roadway grades in final
design. Appendix C provides additional details regarding upgrading of the Miller Creek Access
Route between Warren Peak Road and the Project Area.
4.3.4.2 Mine Area
Upgrades to existing Forest Service roads within the Mine Area will meet or exceed standards
set forth by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and by the Forest Service for all
areas (BLM and Forest Service, 2007). Upgrade of the Miller Creek Access Road outside of the
Mine Area will meet or exceed Forest Service or WDOT standards. Improved roads will be
