Cypress Creek, Cypress Creek Relief, and Cooper Branch Bridge Replacement Environmental Assessment

United States Department of Interior

The National Park Service proposes to replace the Cypress Creek and Cypress Creek Relief bridges and the Cooper Branch bridge along the Natchez Trace Parkway, Wayne County, Termessee (see regional map). The existing two-lane bridges, constructed in 1950, have sustained irreparable deterioration and cracking of the concrete decks, curbs, guardrails, and abutments as a consequence of reactive aggregate used in the concrete mixture. Continuing deterioration of the structural material would eventually result in weakening of the bridge structures, requiring the NPS to impose vehicle weight restrictions on traffic using the bridges,and eventually force bridge closure. Bridge engineers from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) inspected the bridges in 1995 and determined they should be replaced in the near future. Bridge replacement is required to maintain safe conditions for motor vehicle travel along the Parkway. A sign along the parkway at the Cooper Branch bridge identifies the creek as Dulen Branch. However, the creek is incorrectly signed according to US Geological Survey topographic maps. The bridge discussed within this document crosses Cooper Branch rather than Dulen Branch; therefore, Dulen Branch will be referred to as Cooper Branch throughout this environmental assessment