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Show 7. Replacement of Highways, Railroads, and Other Utilities The Problem The extent to which Federal water resources agencies should participate in the replacement or relocation of highways, railroads, and other utilities affected or inundated by water resources improve- ment. The Situation The highway systems in the Colorado River Basin are slowly feeing integrated into a network that will permit access to much virgin territory. The exten- sion and improvement of the system has been slow, due to the terrain and the economics of highway construction. If the water resources are to be used fully by the public, the area must be serviced by an efficient system of local roads and access highways. In mucli early construction, major road loca- tions often followed the river valleys. Underwater resources programs, it will be necessary to relocate many miles of road from these valley floors to rugged mountainsides. In addition more miles of road will be needed to serve local people cut off from the principal highway by the project. The Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers liave differed with State and local high- way officials in the basin as to what constitutes equity in relocating or replacing highways and bridges affected by water resources projects. The position of the Federal agencies has been that State and local interests are entitled at Federal expense to a substitute facility approximately equal to that eliminated ; and that if facilities of higher quality and cost are desired by the State or local interests, the excess cost should be assessed against them. To State high.-way officials, however, the problem is much more complex, involving factors of highway administration and finance entailed by relinquish- ing at places a superior road location for an inferior site. In Arizoaia and Utah over 130 water projects are contemplated, involving relocation of over 200 miles of road. In Colorado, approximately 56 projects are contemplated with an estimated 150 miles of relocation. In western Wyoming approximately 17 projects will require considerable relocation. Typical of present and future problems involved in road relocation in the Colorado River Basin are the followiaig projects: The proposed McDowell Dam on the Verde River will probably require over 15 miles of high- 402 way relocation to more rugged terrain. Water projects would eliminate the already selected bridge crossing site on the Verde River and necessitate costly relocation. In some cases where the proj- ect may not be constructed for 10 or 15 years, it may be more economical to build the highway along the original location than to relocate far in advance. Recognizing the adverse effect that water re- sources projects will have on highway development, Federal, State, and local highway officials have been and are contending that the replacement-in-kind policy places an undue burden on highway funds. They point to three different types of situations which confront highway officials: (a) The deferment, wherever possible, of high- way improvements in areas affected by water proj- ects pending their construction. (b) The need, in certain instances, for improve- ment of a highway traversing an area to be inun- dated by a reservoir to meet growing traffic de- mands, despite the fact that such reservoir is pro- posed, recommended, or actually authorized. (c) The over-all effect of reservoir projects on highway construction, such as route development, highway financial problems, especially excessive maintenance costs, and other administrative problems. Railroad relocation, while costly, is not as com- plex as the highway problem. Because of high standards of construction, additional maintenance costs are negligible. Other factors, such as future construction and improvements in grade, are of minor importance due to the more or less static con- dition of railroad growth as compared with high- ways. The railroads in general follow the valley water grades, as do the highways, and relocation will be costly. The replacement of other utilities such as power lines, pipelines, and water supply lines do not generally cause any controversy over relocation. Conclusions To coordinate more fully the water resources program with present highway programs, and es- tablish equitable replacement of existing highways, railroads, and utilities in comprehensive develop- ment of Colorado Basin water resources, efforts should be made to: (1) Encourage full cooperation between the de- veloping and highway agencies, especially in plan- ning water resources projects. |
