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The Unofficial |
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The Unofficial |
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A-10BB
The A-10BB project, which runs from NC 213 in Mars Hill to US 19, is still scheduled to be finished and open to traffic by the end of 1998. The paving is well underway and the bridges are either completed or nearly so.
A-10C
The A-10C project, which runs from US 19 to Laurel Creek Road, is well under construction. Earthmoving operations have begun from just north of US 19 to Jarvis Road. This work is adjacent to US 23 and is easily viewed from the older road. Relocations of SR 1609 and Jarvis Road have begun. The hope is this work will be completed far enough by winter in order to allow operations to continue once the bad weather sets in.
The Higgins Branch Road bridges are placing the concrete beams now. Most of them are up already. It looks like these bridges could have their decks poured by the end of this year if the weather holds.
The Jarvis Creek relocation looks good. Vegetation has grown in and around the new stream channel, overhanging it and forming shade for animals and fish. While I was there in August I saw minnows in the stream, along with prints from raccoon, frogs and weasels. The stream itself has little pools all along the channel with no evidence of erosion or silting up.
North of Jarvis Road, earthmoving operations continue up to Buckner Gap. The four trees on top of the Gap have been removed so that the earth material can be excavated now. The contractor is trying to get to sufficient volumes of rock material so that his work can continue during the winter. A haul road has been constructed from south of Jarvis Road all the way to Buckner Gap. This well compacted construction road will allow his heavy equipment access to the entire southern half of the project in any weather.
The area south of and at Buckner Gap is where most of the construction work is concentrated right now. A large cut just south of the Gap is down over 200' now, but over 200' still remains to be removed. This is also near the location of the proposed scenic overlook for the northbound lanes.
North of Buckner Gap, the Bear Branch Road interchange hasn't been worked on this summer. The bridge on Bear Branch Road has had all the support structures completed, and the caps for the columns are being constructed now. The steel beams for the bridge are near the site but not installed yet.
A-10D
This project, which runs from Laurel Creek Road up to the Tennessee State Line, hasn't had a lot of visible construction so far this summer. Most of the work is concentrated around the Laurel Creek Bridge and Waste Area #1.
The Laurel Creek Bridge footings are being excavated and poured for the internal supports and columns. One of the footings is right next to Laurel Creek Road, and looks like a big hole right now. The northern endbent is being dug out and constructed now as well. It is hoped that the columns will begin construction later this year.
Waste Area #1 is about a mile north of the Laurel Creek Bridge. The contractor has been excavating out for the 60" pipe system that will go under the waste material, and benching out for the embankment for the highway as it crosses this narrow valley. The sheer size of the work in here is enormous; huge earthmoving vehicles are dwarfed by the amount of work in this large valley, where about 3-5 million CY of material will be placed.
Rock excavation operations have begun both north and south of Waste Area #1. A small haul road has been built connecting these excavation sites with the large embankment areas crossing the waste area to allow rock to be transported down to the undercut excavation locations.
Previous Project Updates:
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