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<br />. . Environmental impacts relate to potential impacts on water resources and rare, endangered and <br />threatened species. TH 10 lies within the Mississippi Wild and Scenic River area. This <br />presents significant limitations on the types of improvements that can be made to the corridor. <br />Therefore, this criterion is important in determining an alternative's feasibility. Potential <br />impacts on historic resources, parklands and community disruption are also considered in this <br />evaluation. <br /> <br />. Cost pertains to order-of-magnitude construction and right-of-way costs relative to other <br />alternatives. It is also compared to available financial resources. <br /> <br />The feasibility of each option described in the preceding section were measured by the above <br />criteria. The analysis is presented as follows. <br /> <br />4. HIGHWAY OPTIONS ANALYSIS <br /> <br />4.1 ADDITION OF RIGHT- OR LEFT- TURN LANES <br /> <br />Safety and Mobility Benefits <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A significant length of the corridor already has turn lanes. Therefore, the incremental <br />mobility and safety benefits from this option would not be significant. Although, where <br />appropriate and where right-of-way exists, this may be an option that could improve safety <br />at urban and rural at-grade intersections. Additionally, at higher accident location areas <br />along the corridor, safety benefits would be realized. <br /> <br />Environmental Impacts <br /> <br />As much as possible, the addition of turn lanes at existing access locations was expected <br />to be constructed in existing right-of-way. A significant length of the TH 10 corridor <br />already has turn lanes at major access locations. Where turn lanes are warranted and do not <br />exist, minimal right-of-way acquisition was anticipated. Therefore, at this screening level, <br />this alternative was not anticipated to have significant impacts to the environment. <br /> <br />Cost <br /> <br />A significant length of the corridor already has turn lanes at major access locations. Where <br />turn lanes are warranted, construction cost is minimal. (Right-of-way cost was not included <br />in this analysis.) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Northstar Corridor Major Investment Study <br />Conceptual Definition of Alternatives <br />February 1999 <br /> <br />VI-3 <br />