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Indirect Impacts <br />Indirect impacts of this project are more difficult to calculate but are nonetheless significant. There will <br />be construction operations on going for three years that will significantly affect several attributes of the <br />Park. The Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by ODOT describes the numerous types of indirect <br />impacts that the project will have. The most relavent impacts are summarized here, along with some <br />additional information. <br />Access Park�uses include running, biking, wildlife watching, dog walking, kayaking, and other passive <br />recreational activities. The Park is also currently used as a major bicycle commuter thoroughfare. <br />Construction operations will require delays and detours throughout the three year construction period. <br />Access to the Park from parking lot #9 will be limited due to the temporary closure of North Walnut <br />Road during its use. Similarly, access to the eastern side of the Park will be greatly impacted, since <br />crossing North Walnut Road or accessing the area from the east will limited. As a result, habitual park <br />users may be discouraged by the ongoing construction and may abandon their routines during the <br />construction period or longer. Similarly, it is likely that some bicycle commuters may avoid the Park <br />and/or seek alternative routes to avoid the construction. Finally, the area near the bridge construction <br />site is included in a variety of organized park events such as 5k/1Ok runs, fundraising walks, and other <br />organized events. Organizers may need to seek alternate locations for their events and/or be required to <br />adjust their events to accommodate the construction activities. <br />Noise The Whilamut Natural Area of Alton Baker Park currently serves as an important place of solace <br />for park users seeking the opportunity to watch nature, walk their dog, or simply find a quiet place to <br />spend time outdoors. It is an important destination for people wanting to find quiet and solace from <br />busy urban lifestyle. The noise associated with continuous vehicular movement (backing up warning <br />signals), pile driving, rock crushing and screening and other unavoidable normal construction noises will <br />be disruptive to these activities. The Environmental Assessment for the project notes that "parks <br />included in the noise analysis are considered recreational uses and are judged to be noise - impacted if <br />predicted noise levels exceed 65 dBA" (EA, p.57). The EA includes estimates that the noise levels are <br />expected to range from 70 —100 dBA at sites 50 feet from the activities (EA, p.60). It is expected that <br />Park users will be discouraged from using large areas of the prairie areas in the Whilamut Natural Area <br />as well as areas near the Canoe Canal and Willamette River due to ongoing excessive noise. On the <br />attached map, the projected noise impacts at various distances from the bridge construction are shown, <br />based on the information presented in the EA. <br />Visual Quality The Environmental Assessment notes that "[p]ublic input has indicated that the visual <br />character and quality of the project area are of high importance to residents of the Eugene - Springfield <br />area. The bridge crosses the Willamette River, a defining feature of Eugene - Springfield. The project <br />area also includes an important and highly used park with a designated natural area (the Whilamut <br />Natural Area) and unique cultural features. Further, the bridge is an important symbolic gateway <br />between Eugene and Springfield as well as for the Willamette River valley." (EA, p. 82). The EA goes <br />on to describe the expected impact of the project: "The visual quality and character of the project area <br />would be adversely affected by the construction activities and equipment that would include <br />construction equipment, and staging and storage of construction equipment and materials at locations <br />north and south of the Willamette River. Demolition, construction, and staging would adversely affect <br />the visual quality and character of the project area during construction. Dust from demolition and <br />construction activity could also affect visual quality of the area. However, this would be minimized by <br />following state and local regulations that require dust suppression activities like applying water or other <br />dust suppressants and washing trucks and equipment. Construction activities would have the greatest <br />effect within the ped landscape unit and would negatively affect the visual quality of all key views, <br />Page 2 <br />