FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE EXECUTIVE ORDERS 11988: FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT and 11900: PROTECTION OF WETLANDS

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gives notice of its intent to provide Public Assistance funding to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) through the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) for the demolition and replacement of the Bancroft Mills Pedestrian Bridge, located in Alapocas Run State Park, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. 

 

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives, and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands.  

 

Project Title: Bancroft Mills Pedestrian Bridge, 167 Bancroft Mills Rd, Wilmington, DE 19806 PA-03-DE-4627-PW-0041 PN 660455

Location of Proposed Work: 

Facility	GPS Start Point	GPS End Point	Date of Construction
Bancroft Mills Pedestrian Bridge	39.76883, -75.56220	39.76919, -75.56220	1909

 

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone and Waters of the United States:

Project plans include the replacement of a 15-foot wide by 265 linear foot 3-span pedestrian truss bridge over Brandywine Creek in the City of Wilmington, New Castle County.  Structural components of the existing structure are located within a Regulatory Floodway, Zone AE (100-Year) and Shaded X zone (500-Year) floodplains. Confirmation of the location within in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the New Castle County Effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), Panel Number: 100003C0068K, dated 01/22/2020. The new structure proposes to span the Special Flood Hazard Area by placing the north abutment outside of SFHA and placing the south abutment behind an existing obstruction within the floodplain and an area modeled as ineffective flow. New Castle County has confirmed the bridge replacement project meets the standards of New Castle County’s flood ordinance. Portions of the proposed work will take place within Riverine wetlands (R2UBH), as identified within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory. Consistent with the requirements of EO 11990 and prior to any encroachment into jurisdictional Waters of the United States the applicant shall secure appropriate permitting from the designated regulatory agency.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

Remnants of Hurricane Ida resulted in heavy rains over Wilmington, Delaware, and significant flooding occurred in the Brandywine Creek. The Bancroft Pedestrian Bridge was impacted by floodwaters and debris. Damage inspections revealed the bridge appeared to have deformed with the center of the span pushed downstream. Additional damages observed included new cracking at the concrete piers, broken tie rods in the deck truss, and timber debris caught at the bottom chord of the truss. 

 

Project Alternatives Considered:

Alternative A. No Action Alternative. 

The No Action Alternative is not a practicable option as it leaves the bridge closed and in a state of disrepair, leaving a significant public safety concern from continued unauthorized use, as well as the potential for a failure and collapse which could exacerbate localized damages caused by flooding. Furthermore, the No Action Alternative does not fulfill FEMA's responsibility to minimize the impact of floods of human health, safety, and welfare under 44 CFR 9.2 (5). The repair alternative selected results in beneficial values to the floodplain.

 

Alternative Options 1-3

Option 1: Existing Bridge Repair and Rehabilitation.

This option includes repairing all deficiencies in the existing bridge identified during the post-flood inspection. The repairs will be followed by rehabilitation to extend the service life of the bridge by 20 years. This option does not raise the profile of the bridge above flood levels, hence leaving the bridge susceptible to future floods and associated damage.

Option 2: Bridge replacement with a dismantled historic bridge currently in DNREC’s possession.  

This option was investigated to evaluate the feasibility of reusing this historic bridge for a service life of 20 years. Due to the size of the historic bridge and the 300-foot span, the construction scope of work will involve installation of new drilled shaft foundations, installation of new abutments for the bridge, erection of temporary shoring towers in the creek and assembling the through truss one piece at a time. This option is not favorable from the perspective of access and constructability. 

Option 3: Chosen Option-Bridge replacement with a new prefabricated pedestrian bridge. 

This option will raise the profile of the bridge above flood levels, thus eliminating the susceptibility to future floods and associated debris damage. The new bridge has a weathering steel finish, thus not needing painting in the future over the creek. New decking system will be of composites or concrete, which will reduce the maintenance cost.

 

Following a review of alternatives, FEMA is providing funding to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) for the demolition of the Bancroft Pedestrian Bridge and its replacement with a prefabricated truss bridge to restore functionality to the pedestrian crossing over the Brandywine Creek.  Funding for this project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain and wetlands standards, permit requirements and conditions.

 

Comment Period:

Comments are solicited from the public; local, state, or federal agencies, and other interested parties to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. Comments should be addressed to: 

FEMA Region 3

Attn: Bancroft Mills Pedestrian Bridge EO 11988 EO11990 Comment 

One Independence Mall

615 Chestnut Street, 6^th floor.

Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404

 

Alternatively, comments may be emailed to: fema-r3-ehp-publiccomment@fema.dhs.gov Please send comments with the subject line [Bancroft Bridge EO 11988 FPN Comment].

 

All comments are to be received within 30 days of the posted date of this notice.

 

POSTED ON: April 3, 2024

 

End of Notice