CUMMING - Forsyth County has begun planning for the reopening of a portion of Ronald Reagan Boulevard which has been closed since November because of a sinkhole but no date for the reopening has been set.
County spokeswoman Jodi Gardner says the county is taking a number of precuationary steps including evaluating the condition of the roadbed and adjacent areas to determine their stability, but no date has been set for reopening the road.
The problem originated in a nearby rock quarry whose owner is adding materials to the base of the quarry which should ensure stability and reduce the possibility of future major movements.
Worst case scenario, according to Gardner: a portion of the Ronald Reagan Boulevard could be permanently closed.
ACTIONS BY THE COUNTY
According to Gardner, the following are measures the county is planning and undertaking at this time:
*Evaluating the subsurface conditions below Ronald Reagan Boulevard to assess the presence of any detectable cracks or voids below the roadway that are not visible at the surface.
*Excavating and examining the areas of the roadway and adjacent areas which have been visibly affected by the ground movement, or where the studies mentioned above indicate a possible impact. These steps will identify how to repair these areas prior to resurfacing the affected portion of the road.
*Examining the storm water drain lines for any damage caused by the ground movement and making any indicated repairs.
*Repairing curbs and gutters and resurfacing the affected portion of the roadway.
*Engaging a third party expert to advise the Engineering Department on any controls, signage or restrictions that may be necessary for the safety of the public using Ronald Reagan Boulevard.
*Developing a monitoring plan and installing equipment that will allow the county to measure any future movement of the roadway.
*Developing and implementing a program of routine observations to detect any future distress to the roadway after the repairs and resurfacing are complete.
*Evaluating the subsurface conditions relative to possible future realignment of the roadway, should such actions become necessary in the future.
Gardner added "both Forsyth County and Lafarge consultants advise that continuing settlement originating from the initial ground movement can be expected. The county intends to make routine observations to recognize these conditions and make the necessary repairs."
"Please understand that Ronald Reagan Boulevard may be partially closed for such repairs or maintenance in the future, and the possibility exists that permanent closure may be required if the maintenance efforts are not successful."
ACTIONS BY LAFARGE
"Lafarge and its experts developed a plan to add material to the base of the quarry which should ensure stability and will reduce the possibility of major future movement," Gardner said. "This plan involves the placement of 1.9 million cubic yards of rock, soil and other residual materials from the quarrying process at the base of the slope."
This plan required approval from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in connection with its role in the administration of mining safety. MSHA also directed Lafarge to temporarily cease operations in the northern portion of the quarry where major ground movement effects were experienced until an appropriate action plan could be developed and reviewed by MSHA.
In early April, MSHA permitted Lafarge to begin work on the action plan to add material to the base of the quarry pit area. Lafarge will place the material in three phases: Phase 1 involves placing 465,000 cubic yards at the very base of the quarry pit; Phase 2 adds another 712,000 cubic yards on and above the Phase 1 materials; Phase 3 involves placing another 738,000 cubic yards on top and farther along the Phase 1 and Phase 2 areas.
Saturday
April 26th, 2025
3:35PM
