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BR-0076: NCDOT/Agencies Status Meeting– 1/26/22 Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
January 31, 2022
This summary covers the 1st in a series of recurring meetings which took place 1/26/22 at 1:00 p.m. via
Microsoft TEAMS.
PARTICIPANTS:
Josh Deyton NCDOT - Division 14- Project Development Team Lead
Stacy Oberhausen NCDOT/TGS – Division 14 – Project Manager
Anne Patrick TVA, Reservoir Land Use and Permitting, Program Manager
Ryan Cook TVA, Reservoir Land Use and Permitting, Program Manager
Crystal Amschler USACOE, Project Manager, Asheville Regulatory Field Office
Allyson Connor USFS, Land Management Planner
Cheryl Gregory NCDOT – EAU- Bio Surveys
Ashley Thomas Brookfield Renewables
Kevin Mitchell NC DEQ, Division of Water Resources – Environmental Specialist
Robert Patterson NC DEQ, Transportation Permitting – Stormwater Engineer
Holland Youngman USFWS – Wildlife Biologist
Nick Shaver NCWRC – Land and Water Access – Mountain Region Supervisor
David McHenry NCWRC – Western DOT Coordinator
Randy Henegar TGS - GESC Hydraulic Review
Jay Twisdale TGS – GESC Hydraulic Review
Cathy Houser RK&K – Roadway / Project Manager – Design Phase
Jon Whittington RK&K – Hydraulics and Erosion Control
John Williams RK&K – Planning / Project Manager – Planning Phase
WELCH COVE BRANCH CULVERT STUDY
NCDOT has evaluated the existing culvert on Welch Cove Branch and determined that it is structurally able
to handle the proposed design. The original plan was to Limit impacts to Welch Cove Creek and stay off of
USFS property by use of retaining walls. After further consideration, NCDOT is moving toward not including
retaining walls. The tight proximity of the retaining walls with NC 28 would make construction very difficult
due to the need to maintain traffic during construction. In addition, the cost of the walls would add
substantially to the project. Crystal Amschler noted that the reasoning supporting this argument would
BR-0076: NCDOT/Agencies Status Meeting– 1/26/22 Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
need to be included as part of documentation during the NEPA and 404 process. The following is an
illustration of what the impact area would look like.
CAUSEWAY STUDY
NCDOT held a constructability meeting in July 2021. The result of that study indicated that barges and work
bridges are not feasible at this site leaving causeways in the lake/river as the required method of
construction. Four phases of causeway construction would be required and each would constrict the flow
of the river. The most constrictive phase is Phase III which blocks 84% of the flow (see drawing below).
NCDOT is conducting a hydrologic study of the constrictions and at completion will be engaging TVA,
Brookfield, and other interested agencies. Progress will be updated in upcoming status meetings.
USFS land
required
BR-0076: NCDOT/Agencies Status Meeting– 1/26/22 Meeting Summary
Bridge No. 9 on NC 28 over Little Tennessee River
Division 14 – Graham/Swain County Line, NC
BROOKFIELD EXAMPLE CONVEYANCE APPLICATION
NCDOT inquired of Brookfield requesting the requirements/examples/forms Brookfield will require to
convey the easement that will be needed by NCDOT to build the bridge replacement. Ashley Thomas
indicated he would look into that.