Public Involvement Meeting

SUBJECT:

     In 2003, an Environmental Assessment for US-70 was completed that proposed a 4 lane bypass for the Town of Valliant, as well as other improvements along the US-70 corridor. Since 2003, the Department has constructed many of these improvements and began the design process for the Valliant bypass. In 2009, ODOT participated in several meetings in which local elected officials and the public voiced concerns and opposition to this plan. Citizens of Valliant expressed a strong desire to re-evaluate the decision for a bypass and keep the improvements to US-70 on the existing alignment through town. In response to these concerns, the Department put all work on the proposed bypass on hold and began preliminary engineering and environmental evaluations for widening the existing US-70 to 5 lanes through town. Improvement to US-70 considered included options for at grade crossing or grade separation at a railroad on the west side of Valliant.

     On June 16th, 2011, the Department conducted a follow up Public Meeting in Valliant and announced the bypass was no longer considered the preferred alignment and presented a 5 lane facility through town with options of an at grade railroad crossing and an option for an overpass over the railroad.