20191577 Ver 1_Draft River Safety Plan 12-31-19_20200106

RIVER SAFETY PLAN
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT RANGER BRIDGE
OVER THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER
To facilitate the safe passage of river users during the construction of the Project Ranger bridge on new
location over the French Broad River Biltmore Farms, LLC has developed this River Safety Plan (RSP).
Coordination and signage:
o Coordinate with the recreational boating outfitters in the area to develop and provide
signage alerting users to this project/construction and recommended put in/pull out
areas.
o Coordinate with the NCDOT on this effort since similar effort has been made for the 1-26
bridge demolition and construction in progress.
o Provide signage upstream and downstream of the bridge to alert river users to
construction. These signs will note that the last public pull out is at Bent Creek River
Park, 400 feet upstream of the bridge. These signs will be placed at the following
locations; all are public with the exception of the privately owned launches marked with
an asterisk (*):
• Headwaters Outfitters* — 25 Parkway Road, Rosman
■ Champion Park River Access (Transylvania County Parks and Recreation) —Old
Turnpike Road, Rosman (15T public access from the headwaters)
■ Hannah Ford Campground - Headwaters Outfitters* - Green Road (SR1127),
Rosman
■ Island Ford River Access (Transylvania County Parks and Recreation) —Island
Ford Road, Brevard
■ Hap Simpson Park (Brevard Parks and Recreation) — 968 Greenville Hwy, Brevard
■ Wilson Road River Access (Transylvania County Parks and Recreation) — Wilson
Road, Pisgah Forest
■ Penrose Boat Ramp (NC Wildlife Resources Commission) — 170 ApacDrive,
Penrose
■ Blantyre Park (Henderson County Parks and Recreation) — 500 Cliff Road,
Penrose
■ Horse Shoe River Access Park (Henderson County Parks and Recreation) — Horse
Shoe

■ Westfeldt Park (Henderson County Parks and Recreation) — 83 Old Fanning
Bridge Road, Fletcher
■ Glen Bridge River Park (Buncombe County Parks and Recreation) — 77 Pinners
Road, Arden
■ Corcoran Paige River Park (Buncombe County Parks and Recreation) — 913inners
Road, Arden
■ Bent Creek River Park (Buncombe County Parks and Recreation) — 1592 Brevard
Road, Asheville
■ Zen Tubing* - 1648 Brevard Road, Arden
■ Hominy Creek River Park (Buncombe County Parks and Recreation) — 194
Hominy Creek Road, Asheville
■ Mills River Park (Town of Mills River) — 124 Town Center Drive, Mills River (This
park is near the confluence of Mills River and French Broad River and a common
starting point for paddlers of the French Broad River.)
o Signage on the causeways to warn river users away and prevent river users from using
the causeway as a stopping point.
• Physical restrictions
o Use of a floating navigational aide to mark the safe passage lane.
o Effort will be made to prevent construction material from falling on river users
during bridge construction. This effort includes placing temporary plywood below
bolted splices during girder erection and along the bridge deck exterior. Once
girders are in place, continuous stay -in -place metal forms will be installed on top of
the girders throughout the bridge deck footprint preventing construction materials
from falling below.
o Steady-state red lights that are solar -powered will be placed on the causeway to alert
river user to its location. Generators will not be used to provide power. These lights
will be atop permanent structures, such as a pole, on each causeway for the duration
of the project. The contractor will be responsible for maintaining these lights at all
times during construction, replacing them as necessary.
• Contractor requirements:
o Develop a river traffic plan to include below items:
■ Provide one or more flaggers upstream as needed to stop river use at limited
times when working over the river (e.g. setting beams)
■ Training of construction staff to teach skills in aiding a distressed boater —This is
meant as an extra precaution for both staff and river users. It does NOTimply
that the contractor will provide "lifeguard" type services.
Must have a life vest and/or boat on site.