Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
From an email exchange shared by loyal reader Bill. The bridge work has indeed caused all kinds of headaches, both for locals just trying to get around, to all the clueless tourists pouring into town. First, Bill’s note:
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 6:37 PM
To: Tipton, Ricky A
Subject: Hello, I represent
West Asheville Watch an online and community organization with about 2000 members in West Asheville. I have been told you are the District contact for DOT…anyway. I have a member who was told that the I-240 work was completed last week, however someone else says the closed signs are up again for this weekend. can you clear this up for us? will 240 be closed this weekend? and if so, is this the last weekend? leaf season is on us, the weekend of 10/1 was unusually busy, and I have no doubt this weekend will be too
thank you
The response:
Mr. Rhodes,
Thank you for your e-mail. I understand your concern with the ongoing project that has been closing a portion of Interstate 240 in West Asheville. The work that necessitates the interstate being closed is nearly completed. However, the contractor performing the bridge repairs will need to close west bound I-240 for at least the next two weekends weather permitting. I do apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. This was the only way we could make these much needed repairs to these bridges. Once the project is completed there should no longer be the numerous pot holes in the bridges along I-240 that have been experienced in the past years.
Thank you for your patience, and please let me know if I can provide
any additional information.
Sincerely,
Ricky A. Tipton, PE, PLS
Division Construction Engineer
NCDOT Division 13
Asheville, North Carolina
828-251-6171
Interesting that they postponed the work from last year because they didn't want to disrupt leaf + holiday season. But then they start the work this year (too late) and the work runs in to leaf season!
I wonder whether this is a hindsight 20/20 thing where they look back and think they should have started sooner or is it a case of something unexpected happening necessitating the late start/finish extended repair work?