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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-01-26_BR-0076_Status_Mtg_01_Summary 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.