20210695 Ver 2_12-1-2023 NCDOT-CSX Burnt Mill Creek UACE Permit Application Narrative_20231201

CSX Transportation (CSXT) Wilmington Bridge Renewal Project
(MP ACB 244.42)
Burnt Mill Creek Bridge Replacement
Project Narrative
Introduction
The CSX Transportation (CSXT) Wilmington bridge renewal project, at MP ACB 244.42, is part of and
immediately adjacent to the Wilmington curve realignment project. This bridge renewal is required to
allow for a mainline speed increase to 25 mph between MP ACB 243.8 and MP ACB 244.3. This project
will replace the existing railroad bridge over Burnt Mill Creek with an upgraded 80' mainline bridge at
MP ACB 244.42. Additionally, this project includes constructing a single +/- 580' long by 15' wide access
road off Railroad Street, and up to three potential staging and storage areas. This project is located off
Railroad Street in Wilmington, North Carolina. This project site is within New Hanover County (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Project Location
1

Purpose and Need
The purpose of the proposed Burnt Mill Creek bridge replacement is to allow for a mainline
speed increase to 25 mph between MP ACB 243.8 and MP ACB 244.3. Additionally, this project
includes upgrading the bridge access road off Railroad Street. The replacement of the Burnt Mill
Creek bridge is necessary due to the condition of the existing bridge being such that
superstructure rehabilitation is not deemed adequate to meet the purpose and need of the
project.
Proposed Project
The proposed project involves removal of the existing bridge over Burnt Mill Creek near Archie
Blue Park, and the construction of a new bridge in the same general footprint. Additionally, the
project also includes upgrading the adjacent bridge access road off Railroad Street.
The existing bridge is 90' long and 19' wide. Supporting the existing bridge are 8 bents and 48
timber piles, with a navigational clearance over the normal water level of Burnt Mill Creek of 12'.
For removal of the existing bridge, standard construction equipment such as cranes, dump
trucks, and loaders will be utilized. Access to the site will be by way of a 580' by 15' access road
leading from the end of existing Railroad Street towards the creek. Additionally, a 20' x 120'
construction and staging storage area is proposed in the northwest quadrant of the bridge. Two
potential storage areas are also proposed, one on the southwest quadrant of the bridge, and one
in the northeast quadrant. Both potential storage areas are 20' x 100' in size.
Material resulting from the demolition of the existing bridge will be loaded into trucks and taken
to an approved offsite area or areas for disposal.
The new bridge over Burnt Mill Creek will be 80' in length (face of proposed backwall to face of
proposed back wall). The new bridge will have a height over the normal water level of Burnt Mill
Creek of 10'. The foundation will consist of one precast 4-foot intermediate (in -water) bent with
two (2) 36" reinforced concrete filled steel pipe piles, both located landward of the edge of the
Creek. Riprap will be placed along each of the banks of creek, but will not extend below the
normal water line.
Impacts
Wetlands- Permanent
The proposed project will not result in any permanent impacts to wetlands,
including coastal wetlands.
Wetlands- Temporary
The proposed project will involve temporary impacts at two separate sites:

Temporary Impact Area 1—This temporary impact site, which is located in the
northwest quadrant of the bridge within the area of the access road and
construction access and staging area, involves temporary impacts to 0.085 acres
(3,730sf) of coastal wetland habitat. All fill associated with this temporary
impact area will be removed immediately following project completion, and the
wetland area will be allowed to naturally revegetate.
Temporary Impact Area 2 —This site, located in the northeast quadrant of the
bridge within the area of a potential storage area, involves temporary impacts to
0.0002 acres (+/- 10sf) of non -coastal wetland habitat. All fill associated with this
temporary impact area will be removed immediately following project
completion, and the wetland area will be allowed to naturally revegetate.
Navigation
Recreational boating access of Burnt Mill Creek in this location is already limited
by an existing flood gate/water control structure +/- 330' downstream of the
existing bridge (see Photo 1), a sewer/water utility line crossing the creek +/- 50'
downstream of the existing bridge, and a sewer/water utility line crossing the
creek +/- 50' upstream of the existing bridge (see Photos 2 and 3). Pilings
associated with the existing bridge structure also create an impediment to
navigational usage. While the new bridge structure will reduce navigational
impediments associated with bridge pilings, the number of bents and pilings in
the water will be reduced, and the other existing impediments to navigation will
remain.
It should also be noted that the Division of Coastal Management has indicated
(by way of an April 25, 2023 email) that the portion of Burnt Mill Creek
upstream of the flood gate/water control structure is not classified as a Public
Trust Area pursuant to the rules of the Coastal Resources Commission.
Therefore, it is not anticipated that the proposed project will have any
discernible impact on navigation of Burnt Mill Creek at this location.
Photo 1. Flood Gate/Water Control Structure -Photo Taken Looking Downstream

Photo 2. Existing Bridge — Photo Taken Looking Upstream
Photo 3. Existing Bridge w/ Emphasis on Utility Lines —Photo Taken Looking Upstream
Access and Staging Plan
The staging area on the south side of the bridge that is shown in the attached
permit drawings is necessary to accommodate the needed construction
equipment in close proximity to the bridge. This project will be implemented
utilizing an accelerated bridge construction process, which requires more
material staging areas than traditional bridge building due to the space required
to store prefabricated bridge and track materials on -site. Additionally, multiple
pieces of equipment will be on -site during portions of the bridge replacement,
requiring staging areas on both sides of the railroad and both sides of Burnt Mill
Creek. Since both the equipment and the materials need to be in close proximity
to the bridge, unavoidable temporary wetland impacts associated with staging
areas will occur as a result.
4

Both electric power lines and sewer/water infrastructure pipes exist within and
immediately adjacent to the proposed project site. The contractor for this
project will be responsible for coordinating with the appropriate utility line
owner(s) prior to the initiation of any proposed staging and construction
activities to ensure that damage or impact to these lines and pipes are avoided.
Need for Temporary Access Road vs. Temporary Work Bridge
A temporary access road and construction staging/storage area are proposed at
this location, rather than a temporary work bridge, for three primary reasons:
1) The project had to demonstrate minimal in -stream impacts such that it
would meet the intent of a NEPA Categorical Exclusion. This was
achieved by reducing in -stream impacts that would have been caused by
installation of a temporary work bridge.
2) A staging area is required for bridge materials. Replacement of this short
span bridge will be performed on an accelerated schedule to reduce the
duration of wetland impacts, as well as the duration of the track outage.
Therefore, prefabricated bridge components will be utilized to facilitate
an accelerated schedule. The components must be staged on -site, in the
immediate vicinity of the bridge such that they can be erected by a
crane.
3) The proposed access route is the only practical option from a public
road (Railroad Street) that does not have utility conflicts (large pipelines,
junction boxes, and overhead powerlines). Please see Figure 2 below for
a depiction of utilities in the immediate vicinity of the bridge. The
presence of overhead powerlines creates a hazard for pile driving
equipment while the pipeline and junction boxes create potential
conflicts with the piles themselves. Placement of the proposed
temporary fill would eliminate the risk of utility conflict associated with
installation of a temporary work bridge.

L iri3Wm�mmm�mm���mm�nwi��r�K�u$�u �si�
Figure 2. Utilities near ACB 244.42 Bridge
Avoidance and minimization
The following avoidance and minimization efforts will be implemented during
both the demolition of the damaged bridge and construction of the replacement
structure.
- The damaged timber piles will be cut a minimum of I'below the mudline
with the work performed in phases to minimize the disruption to the flow of
Burnt Mill Creek.
- No large-scale cofferdams or pump-arounds will be required for this activity.
- A temporary method to allow work in the dry (such as sandbags) will be
used when cutting existing piles and driving new piles to reduce the amount
of in -water impact.
- The foundation will consist of one precast 4-foot intermediate bent with two
(2) 36" reinforced concrete filled steel pipe piles compared to the existing
structure that has 8 bents and 48 timber piles.
- The use of prefabricated components (i.e., steel girders, precast abutments,
precast bents) will eliminate the need for formwork and falsework over the
creek, and will facilitate an accelerated construction schedule, thereby
allowing for shorter duration of stream/wetland impacts.

To ensure that eroded material does not enter adjacent wetlands or waters,
silt fencing will be utilized in association with the access road, the
construction staging and storage area, and potential storage areas.
A temporary absorbent boom will be placed +/- 50 downstream of the
bridge.
Miscellaneous
Other Permits
A separate Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) permit application package
has been prepared for this project and submitted to the N.C. Division of Coastal
Management.
Pre -filing Notification
A Pre -filing notification was filed with the N.C. Division of Water Resources on
January 19, 2023. Email confirmation of receipt of the Pre -Filing Notification is
attached in Appendix A.
Adjacent Property Owner Notifications
Based upon evidence provided by Brunswick and New Hanover County GIS, the
following property owners have been determined to be adjacent riparian
property owners:
Cameron Company Timber, LLC (Northeast Quadrant)
PO Box 3649
Wilmington, NC 28406
City Of Wilmington (Northwest and Southeast Quadrants)
PO Box 1810
Wilmington, NC 28402
Oakdale Cemetery Co. (Southwest Quadrant)
520 15t" Street N
Wilmington, NC 28401
7

Appendices
Appendix A NCDWR Pre -Filing Notification Confirmation