End-On Construction

The Board of Trade, AAA and the Washington Post misinform the public saying end-on-construction would allow constructing the ICC without environmental damage. This message is FALSE! This issue was clearly addressed by the EPA in a September, 1997 letter to then Council member Gail Ewing: "EPA does not feel that this technique (end-on-construction) would serve as a mitigative measure for the wide variety of long term environmental impacts identified in our comment letter on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). These impacts would be realized regardless of the construction technique employed."

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Highway projects in other states have been used as examples of how End-on-construction could be used in Montgomery County.
In Montgomery County we have narrow, pristine, forested headwater stream valleys with some larger flood plain areas. In some areas, the 300 foot ICC right-of-way would include the entire stream valley. End-on bridge construction would have a major impact on forested wetlands if the trees below the bridge were removed. Erosion control and storm water management would be impacted. To support the bridge decking, construction of pilings or piers would require access by heavy equipment.