Scenes from construction of a portion of Bolin Creek Greenway in Chapel Hill
Barb Stenross read the following statement to the Council on June 28.
I’m here tonight to read my husband’s statement about paving next to Bolin Creek. His name is Michael Charles Russell. Michael retired from the Town of Chapel Hill 9 years ago. He was the Senior Engineering Inspector during all phases of the construction of Bolin Creek greenway and other bike paths in Chapel Hill, so he knows a bit about this topic.
Regarding the Bolin Creek bikeway in Chapel Hill, he said he thought the town should have acquired more property so they could have built bike path further away, at least 40 to 60 feet from the creek bank. He also feels, in retrospect, that they should have paid for creek restoration, although the cost of that would most likely have exceeded that of the bike path itself. He told me that Town bike paths customarily had cost overruns because they had to modify the plans in the field to build to road standards or sometimes higher to support the heavy equipment needed to construct the paths and install bridges. They also had cost overruns because they discovered unstable soil materials and needed to add subdrainage systems and geotechnical fabrics that were not contained in the initial designs.
The big problem in Carrboro, he said, is that the soil materials here are even less substantial, the costs will likely be even higher, and heavy rains in the floodplain will add a wild card with respect to safety. In his words, quote: “I am concerned about the amount of damage that will be done during construction and the excessive cost it will take to build a bike path that can support construction equipment and OWASA’s vehicles. Due to the proposed location next to the creek, I also believe the Town would have to commit to a full stream restoration. Failure to do so would become evident after another flood such as Fran or other large rain event. Even many now-ordinary rain events will make bicycling close to the creek dangerous at times.
Contrary to the simplistic images on social media, constructing a bike path along Bolin Creek will involve much more than laying down a narrow strip of concrete or asphalt paving. It will involve much heavy equipment, a path that’s virtually a roadway in many places, environmental damage, and costly restoration. I am not sure that Carrboro has the staff or funds to manage such a huge construction project in a sensitive riparian zone. And I worry that even a carefully built and very expensive bikeway in the Bolin Creek floodplain would erode out and be unsafe during heavy rains.
As for access to the creek for those in wheelchairs or with other disabilities, there are new materials and designs that could be used to enable handicap accessibility from Tripp Farm Road, without the need for paving.”