Article Title

Intensive Archeological Survey for the Bridge Replacement on County Road 279 at Kings Creek, Kaufman County, Texas

Authors

Jay King
Benjamin Morton

Agency

Texas Historical Commission

Abstract

On behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) conducted an intensive archeological survey on June 6–7, 2018, of a potential bridge replacement consisting of approximately 2.0 acres of new and existing rightof-way (ROW) along County Road (CR) 279 in Kaufman County, Texas. Because the project will receive funding from the Federal Highways Administration, it qualifies as an undertaking as defined in Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 800.16(y) and, therefore, the work was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S. Code 306108). Furthermore, the project must also comply with the Antiquities Code of Texas (9 Natural Resources Code 191). Jon Budd served as Principal Investigator under Texas Antiquities Code Permit No. 8438.

The total area of potential effects (APE) is defined as the existing 38- to 52-foot-wide CR 279 ROW beginning 130 feet west of the intersection CR 279 centerline and extending 470 feet east. In addition, the APE includes approximately 1.0 acre of proposed new ROW that is distributed on both sides of the existing ROW. Finally, a new, permanent, 0.3-acre easement is required and is located south of the proposed new ROW, south of the bridge. According to typical design, the depth of impacts is estimated to be up to 53 feet for the bridge supports and up to 4 feet for the rest of the project. The APE comprises approximately 2.0 acres.

Background research identified no archeological surveys, cemeteries, or known historic resources in or adjacent to the APE; however, there are eight prehistoric archeological sites within a 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) radius review area. All of these sites are located more than 300 feet (91.5 meters) from the APE and will not be impacted. No historic structures were illustrated in or near the APE on any historic U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps (USGS 2018) nor were there any historic domiciles illustrated on the 1936 Texas State Highway Department of Kaufman County map.

The field investigation of the proposed project APE consisted of an intensive pedestrian survey with shovel testing and mechanical backhoe trenching. The existing ROW is heavily disturbed by prior roadway and bridge construction activities. The investigations identified no archeological resources within the APE.

SWCA has made a reasonable and good faith effort to locate and identify historic properties as per 36 CFR Part 800.4(b)(1), and cultural resources as per Subchapter A of Chapter 26 of the Texas Administrative Code throughout the proposed project APE. Based on the results of the survey, SWCA recommends a finding of “no historic properties affected,” and no further archeological investigations are recommended within the APE.

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