Death Valley/Travertine Work
Summary
SCH Number
2025050493
Public Agency
California Department of Transportation, District 9
(DOT)
Document Title
Death Valley/Travertine Work
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/12/2025
Document Description
Immediate emergency work to protect life, property, and safety of the traveling public. Travertine (furnace) creek had eroded the roadway shoulder creating a severe drop at the edge of pavement and water was encroaching upon the roadway. Work required the installation of 2 culverts (Post Miles 111.97 and 112.48) to divert flows across the highway back into the historic flow path. Once water was diverted away from the roadway repairs to the dirt shoulders and asphalt occurred.
Contact Information
Name
Heather Elder
Agency Name
California Dept of Transportation
Job Title
Senior Environmental Scientist
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Death Valley
Counties
Inyo
Regions
Unincorporated
Other Information
Death Valley National Park - Furnace Creek in
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)
Reasons for Exemption
After the last severe storm in the area, the water patterns changed requiring an emergency project. Water is now topping the pavement into the travel lane and flowing at the edge of pavement on the shoulder all highlighting the urgency of an emergency project to restore proper drainage and roadway integrity. The water running alongside the roadway not only has undermined the pavement structural section due to saturation, but also poses operational risks creating unexpected conditions with water on the roadway and increasing erosion along the shoulder. In addition, a suitable stable shoulder for errant vehicle recover is no longer present due to the saturated soil, rills, and drop off at edge of pavement. This situation needs to be immediately addressed through an emergency project – due to failure and threat of failure of the roadway and for public safety – to provide appropriate drainage to limit further roadway deterioration, reconstruct the damaged structural section, prevent further damage to surrounding infrastructure, and ensure safe travel conditions for the public.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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