Detailed data will be developed for the draft environmental impact statement (draft EIS), through summer 2008, and used to re-evaluate the remaining five alternatives against the evaluation framework. Results are used to support selection of a locally preferred alternative. The locally preferred alternative must be approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This phase is expected to be completed by early 2009.

The public was asked to tell the project team which bridge types were their top choices for each replacement bridge alternative in the fourth survey and at the fourth open house. Email comments were also reviewed by the Community Task Force and the project team.

Information about the preferred alternative will be collected from the public in the fall of 2008.

The project team screened the alternatives against the evaluation criteria. The third public event explained the upcoming steps in the project, as well as reviewing the initial evaluation results.

The public was asked to tell the project team which alternatives were their top two choices in the third survey. Email comments were also reviewed by the Community Task Force and the project team.

The project team developed a range of alignment, interchange, and cross-section concepts. These were presented at the public workshop. Based on what the project team heard from the public, several additional alignments and a tunnel concept were developed. Other comments are being reviewed by the project team for later phases of the project.

The input collected at the October Open House and first survey was used in the development of the Evaluation Framework.

The project team presented a draft Purpose and Need Statement at the October Open House. Based on what the project team heard from the public, the Purpose and Need Statement was refined. This statement will be used for the rest of the project when considering what the best alternative for the project will be.