Federal Highway Administration Seeking Comments

Improvements are being proposed to Forest Highway 26 (Sage Creek Road) between the High Savery Dam and State Highway 70 (Battle Lake Road). This stretch of road through the Medicine Bow National Forest (MBNF) includes the popular stretch known as "Aspen Alley." The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and MBNF are conducting scoping at this time and are soliciting input from the public about how the public wants the road to be maintained and/or improved. Most of that portion of Forest Highway 26 is gravel surface, with some paving to the north of Battle Lake Road. The FHWA would like comments to the following questions they have posed:

Why do you use it?
What kind of vehicles do you use to access the road?
What time of year do you use the road?
How often do you use the road?
What safety concerns might you have based on your past use of the road?
What problems, if any, have you encountered while using the road?
What environmental resource issues or concerns do you have regarding the road?

This is habitat for the Wyoming pocket gopher, a Wyoming Forest Service Sensitive Species, as well as crucial winter range for mule deer and elk. Paving the road will allow for increased usage and higher speeds through this sensitive area. It is important that your opinions be heard, so please take a few minutes to send your input to the FHWA.

The deadline for sending comments is SEPTEMBER 30, 2006. You may send your comments to the Federal Highway Administration at:

Mr. Tom Puto
Project Manager
Central Federal Lands Highway Division
12300 West Dakota Avenue, Suite 380A
Lakewood, CO 80228

Or email to: tom.puto@fhwa.dot.gov