20210046 Ver 1_Causeway question_20211007

Wanucha, Dave
From:Hining, Kevin J
Sent:Wednesday, October 6, 2021 11:45 AM
To:Wanucha, Dave
Subject:Ashe bridge 355 replacement - causeway question
Attachments:Ashe 355 causeway for new pier installation.jpg; Ashe 355 old bridge supports.jpg
Hey Dave,

Ashe bridge 355 at Hartzog Ford is moving along well. They just completed installation of the new piers on the west
side of the bridge (see photo) and now plan to move the causeway downstream so they can remove two in water
supports from the old bridge, before swapping the causeway to the other side of the river. Given the shallow nature of
the river at this location, and knowing the potential impacts causeways can cause (no pun intended!), I wanted to run
an idea by you, for possible use in this situation, and maybe other sites with similar conditions.

The contractor has indicated that the old bridge supports should be easy to remove with a trackhoe, and in a matter of
a couple of hours each. They can track right out to the first support and remove it, and then move a few feet further
out and reach out to the middle support.

Given the river is very shallow at this location, I think it would be better from an environmental standpoint to allow the
contractor to enter the water with a trackhoe and reach, grab, and remove those two bents. As an alternative, they
would have to build another causeway, remove the old supports, and then take up the causeway. Also, my other
concern is the causeway will be a much larger footprint/impact area than just the trackhoe would make. Especially
since the trackhoe can just go straight out, grab the material, and then come straight back following almost the same
footprints of its tracks, with no up or downstream movement needed.

I know from visiting stream restoration and dam removal projects that it is a common practice to enter a stream with a
trackhoe. And, my understanding is the NCDWR general permit conditions doesn’t say you can’t do this, but you just
need to make sure any heavy equipment nr or in water is inspected and maintained to prevent leaks and
contamination, as well as minimize exposure of equipment to surface waters as much as possible. I think we can follow
those conditions. The site is on a road that is closed, so I don’t expect any questions or calls from the general public, but
still wanted to notify you. Also, just wanted to clarify that I would not suggest this approach for any new construction
(drilling, pouring concrete, etc.), or for areas with deep and/or turbulent water. But, this seems like a perfect location
to try this (see photo showing the two old supports we plan to retrieve – they are the closest ones to you). We would
wait till flows drop again, since it is raining up there now. Would you have any major concerns with us trying this? If so,
we are fully prepared to build the causeway. This isn’t something the contractor has asked to do, but more of an idea I
had given the footprint of the trackhoe vs the causeway, and the ease of the proposed work – just seemed like a
causeway would be overkill in this instance.

Speaking of track hoes in the river, a friend just sent me a video showing the recent removal of the Ward Dam on the
Watauga River in Watauga County. It’s a neat video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7q9Jlvhi8&t=3s I hope to
go by the area upstream of the dam, that used to be impounded, to see what it looks like now.

Kevin

Kevin Hining
Division 11 Environmental Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Transportation

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PO Box 250
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