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Why Paving Along Bolin Creek Is a Bad Idea: A Construction Insider’s View
A perspective from Barb Stenross
Although I’m not an expert on bikeways, I am married to someone who knows quite a bit about them. His name is Michael Charles Russell. Many people know him as M.C. (going by initials is not unusual for a sixth-generation North Carolinian), but I call him Michael. A few weeks ago, Michael and I got to talking about the Bolin Creek bikeway that exists in Chapel Hill.
I became interested in the issue of a Bolin Creek bike path while watching the March 28 Carrboro Town Council livestream. At that meeting, council members voted 6 to 1 to move forward with the Bolin Creek greenway through Carrboro and to keep the required public engagement in-house rather than bringing in an external consultant. They directed Town staff to complete the public-input process before local elections in the fall.
It appeared that the council members had already decided that they wanted to move on this– and fast–and that putting the bike path through Bolin Forest, next to the creek, would be the way to go. No one except council member Randee Haven-O’Donnell mentioned any routes other than the one along the creek.
So, I asked Michael if this creekside route was a good idea.
His answer was, “No.”
Lessons from Chapel Hill
Until Michael retired nine years ago, he was a Senior Engineering Inspector for the Town of Chapel Hill. In this role, he was daily in the field on one project or another (e.g., Meadowmont, Southern Village) overseeing contractors building infrastructure such as sidewalks, handicap ramps, bike paths, bridges, and roads. He kept up with the latest materials and specs, illustrated the Engineering Department’s Design Manual, and made sure no corners were cut. Although Michael does not have an engineering degree, he earned the trust of the Town Engineer and worked for the Town of Chapel Hill for 30 years.
During the several phases of the construction of Chapel Hill’s bikeways, including those along Bolin Creek and through Meadowmont, Michael was one of the inspectors tasked with inspecting installations and contract compliance associated with these projects.
In Michael’s opinion, Chapel Hill should have acquired more property so they could have sited the Bolin Creek bike path further away—”at least 40 to 60 feet from the creek bank.”
“And, in retrospect,” he added, “the Town should have paid for creek restoration.” “I bet that would have been expensive,” I countered.
“Yes,” he answered. “It would most likely have exceeded that of the bike path itself.”
Cost Overruns
Michael explained that Chapel Hill’s Bolin Creek bike path had cost overruns because contractors and engineers often had to modify the plans to build to road standards, or sometimes higher, so that the paths could support the heavy equipment needed for construction, as well as to handle the installation of the necessary 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 design plans.
“In Carrboro,” he added, “the soil materials 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.”
Stream Damage/Flooding
I attended the Town Council meeting on June 27 to report what I learned from Michael during the Public Comment part of meeting.
I also quoted his conclusion: “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 result in consequences that 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 I’ve seen on social media, Michael has convinced me that constructing a bike path in Carrboro along Bolin Creek will involve much more than laying down a narrow strip of concrete or asphalt paving.
It will involve much heavy equipment, produce a path that’s virtually a roadway in many places, cause extensive environmental damage, and be very, very costly.
And then there’s the matter of flooding and the danger that comes with it.
In a recent talk at the creek, Carrboro stream ecologist Michael Paul explained that armoring creeks hastens the course of water, contributing to even greater flooding downstream.
Downstream in this case is Camelot Village, one of our area’s few developments with more affordable housing.
Practical Alternatives Exist
So, I am wondering in print here: does Carrboro have the staff or funds to manage such a huge construction project in a sensitive riparian zone?
Aren’t there less costly and safer alternatives?
Surprisingly, we haven’t heard much about any of these, although they do exist. Carrboro’s 2020 Revised Bike Plan lists neighborhood bikeways along the town’s quieter streets, as well as a future rails-to-trails route in the Norfolk-Southern rail line when UNC closes its coal-powered plant, more likely to happen sooner than later.
There is also the Upland Trail mentioned in the 2009 Bolin Creek Greenway report, one of the alternatives that the public is being asked to consider. This alternative includes a short stretch through Bolin Forest but away from the flooding and sensitive ecosystem of Bolin creek.
Compelling Reasons for Preservation
I think even more compelling reasons exist than those above. In my understanding, putting a concrete road next to a creek does not stabilize the soil, but it does significantly deteriorate the quality of water in the creek and the riparian wildlife that need it for survival.
At the current time, the stream quality of the segment of Bolin Creek going through Carrboro is rated Good-Fair. By contrast, the rating of the segment flowing through Chapel Hill is now Poor. I would think we would want to protect what we have during this time of climate and biodiversity crisis, not spoil it.
In addition, because OWASA pipes run underground along Bolin Creek in Carrboro and need to be protected, the creek may need to be heavily armored with rip rap, creating further barriers for wildlife and reducing the aesthetic and recreational appeal.
At a time when we are desperate to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, Bolin Creek and the surrounding forest are amazing resources that provide us with tremendous climate, ecological, and social benefits. For a town with the second highest population density in North Carolina, we, in Carrboro, are lucky to have an urban forest in our midst. Although the creek and forest need some TLC, the forest is functioning as our community’s lungs and ecological buffer during this time of climate crisis.
The experience of Bolin Creek offers a chance for us to improve our physical and mental health with a walk in the woods or down by the creek. The gurgling creek and nearby vernal pools host aquatic species that are at high risk, but still can be found there, much to the delight of children and walkers. Preserving such habitat is critical to a healthy urban environment.
Because the Bolin Creek experience is so valuable, I asked Michael how we could help people with disabilities who want to gain more access. He assured me there are new materials and designs that could be used so persons with disabilities could have access from Tripp Farm Road, “without the need for paving.”
Who Wins? Forest or Concrete?
For the reasons I’ve outlined, I’m opposed to putting a bikeway next to Bolin Creek in Carrboro. My question is: Why do we want to despoil our shared green treasure with concrete?
I think it’s time to seriously consider upland routes. Concrete is necessary for building a path next to the creek because of the OWASA infrastructure and because other materials could wash away, with a negative impact on drinking water downstream. But locating a path upland would allow a design that uses permeable materials. These are easier on the feet, good for biking and wheelchairs, and much better for the environment and climate change.
An upland path would also be more efficient because it could connect to the paved path that already links Chapel Hill High to Smith Middle and Seawell Elementary schools. And it could offer a connection to the potential rails to trails greenway, which would provide many miles of connectivity.
I would like us to end the divisiveness generated by the false issue of creekside path versus no path. Everyone wants to complete the greenway. We are at a point where the Carrboro community understands the need for a compromise on this issue. Exploring the options for an upland trail would open the possibility of bringing the community together in support of both a completed bike path and our beloved Bolin Creek and forest.
(featured image via Town of Carrboro)
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
