20240254 Ver 2_NCDOT-CSX Directional Bore -USACE Permit Narrative - May 21 2024_20240523

CSX Transportation (CSXT) Wilmington Bridge Renewal Project
(MP SE 361.10)
Directional Bore
P-5740-A
Revised May 21, 2024
Project Narrative
NOTE: Due to design changes with this project that took place after the submission of the original
permit application package on November 2, 2023, this new Narrative supersedes the original
Narrative.
Introduction
The CSX Transportation (CSXT) Wilmington Bridge Renewal Project, at MP SE 361.10, is part of
the Wilmington Curve Realignment Project. This project will upgrade various components of the
existing railroad draw bridge located off Quality Drive at the Cape Fear River within Brunswick
and New Hanover Counties (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Project Location
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Purpose and Need
The purpose of the proposed project is to provide upgraded electric and fiber optic services from
the west side of the Cape Fear River to the draw bridge equipment located to the east of the
draw bridge portion of the structure. Electrical and fiber optic services cannot be run suspended
from the bridge to the control house and equipment due to the presence of the draw bridge
portion of the bridge.
Proposed Project
Four new high -density polyethylene (HDPE) conduits (4.5" OD) will be installed by the horizontal
directional drill (HDD) method to carry new power feeder conductors and a new fiber optic link
across the Cape Fear River channel. Electrical HDPE conduit shall terminate to ground boxes on
each side of the river. No section of HDPE conduit shall be exposed. All work shall be performed
within existing right of way.
The proposed conduit will be located a minimum of 20 feet below the river bottom (See Sheet
EC-14). The contractor will verify the location of fender piles to avoid potential conflicts with
existing structures and their foundations. No new piles are to be driven. The contractor shall also
verify if any underground utilities exist in the proposed HDD route to avoid conflicts.
The bore pit on the west side of the river will be located on high ground and will be accessed by
way of an existing service road. The bore pit on the east side of the river will be placed on a high
ground area immediately adjacent to the existing rail bed. Temporary timber matting (20' x 40')
will be placed around the exit pit on the east side of the river. A temporary 16' wide timber
matted access path for the HDD equipment will also be constructed from the edge of the river to
the bore pit. Prior to the decision to propose this temporary access path through coastal
wetlands, CSX examined three other options to allow for access to the bore pit without
necessitating wetland impacts. The first of these three options, the use of an elevated trestle,
was dismissed due to cost and engineering considerations. Two other access options, (a hi -rail
alternative, and an alternative for providing access using a barge -mounted crane) were
discounted for the reasons detailed in the attached document entitled "Horizontal Directional
Drill (HDD) at CSXT Navassa Bridge & Under the Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC" (See Appendix
A).
The HDD conduit will then run from this bore pit to the bridge structure, where it will then be
hung from the bridge as it is run to the control house and the draw bridge equipment. The
conduit will not extend any lower than the existing bridge structure. The existing sub -marine
cable will be abandoned in place.
The proposed project will also involve the removal of an existing control house on the bridge
structure, the construction of a new 20' x 25' generator pad on the western shoreline and two
new 8' x 12' control houses — one on the western shoreline of the project and one in the location

of the existing control house, along with a new navigation horn and weather station. No
additional pile driven will be necessary to accommodate the control houses.
Impacts
Wetlands- Permanent
The proposed project will not result in any permanent impacts to wetlands,
including coastal wetlands.
Wetlands- Temporary
The placement of the temporary matting surrounding the bore pit and the
temporary matted access path will result in the temporary impact of 0.062 acres
of coastal wetland. The temporary matting and temporary matted access path
will be removed in its entirety immediately following project completion.
Navigation
There should be no negative impact on vessels navigating the Cape Fear River.
The HDD conduit will be placed sufficiently below the river bottom to ensure
that there will be no impacts to navigation or future channel dredging efforts.
Any barges used during the construction process, including demolishing and
replacing the existing control house, will be moored outside of the Federal
Channel.
Cultural Resources
Attached please find a letter from Katherine Zeringue, Federal Preservation
Officer, to Dr. Kevin Cherry, State Historic Preservation Officer (Attn: Renee
Gledhill -Earley, Environmental Review Coordinator) noting that No
Archaeological Survey was required (See Appendix B).
Access and Staging Plan
Access to the project from the west side of the river will be by way of an existing
service road adjacent to the railroad bed. Access to the project from the east
side of the project will be by way of barges moored in the river. Any barges used
during the construction process will be moored outside of the Federal Channel.
Avoidance and minimization
Impacts to wetlands, including coastal wetlands, have been minimized through a
project design that eliminates all permanent impacts to wetlands and waters,
and will only have a temporary impact to wetlands of 0.062 acres.
Navigational impacts on vessels navigating the Cape Fear River have been
avoided by requiring that any barges used during the construction process be
moored outside of the Federal Channel.
Because HDD projects can present unique potential risks, the contractor will
adhere to the contractor Frac-Out Contingency Plan for Directional Drilling (see
Appendix C) and the Bentonite Mitigation Plan (See Appendix D). Once chosen,
the contractor may choose to implement their own contingency and/or

mitigation measures, in which case the Contactor will coordinate with the
Division of Coastal Management, Division of Water Resources, and U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers before implementation of any such alternative measures.
Miscellaneous
Other Permits
A separate permit Coastal Area Management Act 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 E.
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.
Edwards Albert M Trustee and Creech V A JR (Northwest Quadrant)
PO Box 3416
Fredericksburg, VA 22402
NCWILI01 Good 100 Quality Drive LLC (Southwest Quadrant)
1521 Westbranch Drive
Mc Lean, VA 22102-3204
City Of Wilmington (Northeast and Southeast Quadrants)
PO Box 1810
Wilmington, NC 28402
Appendices
Appendix A HDD at CSXT Navassa Bridge & Under the Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC
Appendix B Letter that No Archaeological Survey is Required
Appendix C Contractor Frac-Out Contingency Plan for Directional Drilling
Appendix D Bentonite Mitigation Plan
Appendix E NCDWR Pre -Filing Notification Confirmation
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