The Unofficial
I-26 Construction
Madison County
North Carolina
Pages

The project between Mars Hill and US 19 is complete. All the signs, paint striping, fencing and paving has been finished and traffic is now using the road. The contractor will have to return in the spring to place thermoplastic pavement markings once the weather warms up, but that's all that is left to do.

A-10C

As of the end of June 1999, over 14,500,000 cubic yards of excavation has been moved since October 1996. This is about 61% of the total for the project. Over 1,600,000 cubic yards of undercut excavation has been removed and disposed of also, which is 67% of the total. Almost all of the 60" structural plate pipe has been installed; 11,900 linear feet for 92% of the total.

Several erosion control items have been very heavily used in the last two and a half years. Over 14,200 tons of sediment control stone have been used so far. Silt excavation, which is the cleaning out of various erosion control devices, is now up to 142,000 cubic yards. Over 13,000 linear feet of erosion control fence have been used as well since construction began.

Construction has really picked up on this project now that good weather is here again. Gilbert Southern has brought in a 200 ton capacity truck to speed up excavation operations from the big cuts at Area 2 and 3. Blasting is being done about every 36 hours in an attempt to take advantage of the good weather and move as much material as possible as quickly as possible.

The fill is virtually complete on the section from US 19 to Higgins Branch Road. North Main Street is now relocated over to Higgins Branch Road and in operation. The fill slopes are seeded and heavy stands of grass are now growing on them. The bridges over Higgins Branch Road are nearly complete as well. Some surface drainage structures and pipes are being installed in the area around Higgins Branch Road now.

In the area between Higgins Branch Road and Jarvis Road, not much has taken place. The relocation of Jarvis Road is roughed in but that's about it. The Jarvis Creek relocation is looking good, with heavy plant growths along this small creek's waterway.

North of Jarvis Road is where all the construction is taking place right now. The contractor is beginning to construct both the scenic overlook and the rest area ramps, and the rock buttress near Waste Area #1 is rapidly taking place. The rock buttress is about 50' high at this time, but still needs to be another 120' higher. Excavation at Area #2 is down 150' into rock, but still has 200' more to go to reach the final grade of the interstate. Blasting is beginning along the southern face of the cut (the shorter side). At Buckner Gap (Area #3), the soil has been removed but little rock has been removed from this area as of yet.

North of Buckner Gap, the grading for the Bear Branch Road realignment is beginning. Clearing and soil removal operations are starting. The Bear Branch bridge has had the steel girders placed on the columns as well. The repair work on the Bear Branch stream relocation has not begun yet but should begin this summer.

A-10D

By the end of June, 1999, about 2,300,000 cubic yards of excavation has been removed since 1997, or about 26% of the total amount. Over 440,000 cubic yards of undercut excavation has been removed, or about 37% of the total. Nearly 87% of the 60" plate pipe has been installed already; 5,800 linear feet of the total amount.

As this project has only been under construction for about a year, the erosion control items haven't been as heavily used yet. Silt excavation, however, is already up to 116,000 cubic yards.

The Laurel Creek Bridge is proceeding steadily. The tallest column is now about 150' high, but still has another 80' to go before it's at the final elevation. The other columns aren't begun yet, but retaining soil nail walls and timber pile walls are in place at the column locations.