Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
March 13, 2008 issue
Story by Kathleen McFadden
The Blue Ridge Parkway’s situation isn’t looking great this summer. Not only is the Goshen Creek bridge near Aho scheduled for closure, but the area of the scenic highway just south of the Craggy Garden Visitors Center is unstable and has been closed. Additionally, the NCDOT is planning major improvements to Bamboo Road that could impact the Parkway, and Parkway officials are soliciting public comment on the plans to use as they prepare environmental assessment of the project.
Goshen Creek Bridge
Locals who use the section of the Parkway between Aho and Bamboo Gap won’t be able to travel that roadway again until December—and maybe even longer. The Goshen Creek bridge north of Aho is scheduled for replacement, and the closure is imminent.
According to Parkway engineer Al Hollister, the contractor is currently installing detour signs, but has not yet notified the Parkway of the date work will begin. Parkway Maintenance Director Mike Molling said he expects work to begin in early April.
Headed southbound on the Parkway, traffic will exit at Bamboo Gap, and then follow Bamboo Road to Deerfield to Highway 321, rejoining the Parkway either at Aho or Blowing Rock. Headed northbound, the Parkway will be closed via the snow gate just north of the Aho intersection.
The Goshen Creek bridge deck has deteriorated to such a degree, Hollister said, that it must be replaced. The entire deck will be taken out and rebuilt. Completion is estimated for December 2008, but Hollister said that because of temperature-sensitive processes such as painting, the closure could extend into 2009.
“The bridge has had problems for several years,” Hollister said, “and we’ve gotten the funding to fix them.”
Currently, Hollister said, no other Parkway bridges in the High Country are scheduled for repair or replacement.
Craggy Gardens
In late February, Parkway Superintendent Phil Francis announced growing concerns for the structural integrity of the road just south of the Craggy Garden Visitor Center at Milepost 364.5.
Because of unstable road conditions associated with the retaining wall failure at the steep slope across the road from Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, Parkway officials have closed the area to all traffic—not only vehicles, but bicycle and foot traffic as well. Orange barrels and cones have been erected to prohibit hikers, bicyclists or any activity in the area. Signs will be posted as soon as possible.
The 500-foot retaining wall was constructed in 1942 and has been known for water seeps. After 60 years, its mortar joints have weakened, dissolved or washed away. Tight quarters, rebuilding the roadbed, and the need to retrieve the culturally significant stones create an unsafe situation for vehicular traffic.
The principal detour will be through Little Switzerland at the Museum of North Carolina Minerals, but other detour routes will permit access to points south and Mt. Mitchell.
Estimates are that the area will be closed for at least 12 months.
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center will be closed for the 2008 season. The Craggy Gardens picnic area, however, will open on Friday, May 9.
Comments Solicited on Bamboo Road Improvements
The NCDOT has identified a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone as a priority improvement area. DOT, in conjunction with the National Park Service-Blue Ridge Parkway, is preparing an environmental assessment for proposed roadway improvements to approximately 0.72 mile of Bamboo Road between the end of pavement near Little Laurel Road and George Hayes Road in Watauga County. The area is in the vicinity of Parkway Milepost 286 and within the Parkway right of way.
The significance of this project and location is that the area is defined as “rural” in the Town of Boone’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan, but significant growth is expected in the area over the 10 to 15 years. The visual character of the Blue Ridge Parkway could be significantly
impacted by such development, and Parkway officials are hoping that NCDOT’s participation in the environmental assessment will cultivate values systems and guidelines that help protect the Parkway.
According to information from the Parkway, Bamboo Road has one of the heaviest volumes for unpaved roadways in Watauga County and requires greater maintenance than typical unpaved secondary roads. It also has a higher total crash rate than the statewide average. The proposed project will improve traffic operations by providing a continuous paved section of roadway wider than the existing 16-foot road. The proposed improvements are considered necessary to improve safety and accommodate traffic along Bamboo Road, but the Parkway wants to minimize impacts on visual resources, air quality, water resources and soundscapes.
Although the proposed project is entirely state funded, the National Environmental Policy Act applies because the project is a proposed action on National Park Service property within the Parkway right of way.
Public participation is a critical element in the planning and environmental analysis for the proposed project. Consequently, the Blue Ridge Parkway is seeking public input related to the proposed project through Monday, April 21. Public input will help the Parkway identify issues of concern and interest and ensure that the environmental assessment thoroughly addresses potential effects of the proposed project.
To obtain more info about the project and to provide comments, click to http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Click Blue Ridge Parkway on the park drop-down menu and then click the project title “Environmental Assessment for Improvements to SR 1514 (Bamboo Road) in Watauga County, NC.”
You can also mail written comments to Blue Ridge Parkway, Bamboo Road Improvements Project, Attn: Suzette Milling, 199 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
Comments must be postmarked by Monday, April 21, to be considered in this phase of the planning process.
How To Comment on DOT’s Proposed Improvements to Bamboo Road
North Carolina DOT and the Blue Ridge Parkway are working together to prepare an environmental assessment of proposed changes to Bamboo Road adjacent to the Parkway, and Parkway officials are soliciting comments from the public.
To obtain more info about the project and to provide comments, click to http://parkplanning.nps.gov. Click Blue Ridge Parkway on the park drop-down menu and then click the project title “Environmental Assessment for Improvements to SR 1514 (Bamboo Road) in Watauga County, NC.”
You can also mail written comments to Blue Ridge Parkway, Bamboo Road Improvements Project, Attn: Suzette Milling, 199 Hemphill Knob Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
Comments must be postmarked or submitted online by Monday, April 21, to be considered in this phase of the planning process.