NEWS

The cafeteria was full for the discussion about the Potts-Sloan-Beaty project. (News of Davidson photo)

Editors’ Note: if you missed the meeting and want more than the following News of Davidson overview of the meeting, please watch our videos. The full-length video is on our News of Davidson Facebook page. The same full video has been divided into three clips and can be viewed on our NewsofDavidson.photos site.

Town Manager Jamie Justice (right) shares an audience question during the meeting. (News of Davidson photo)

Monday night there was a standing-room-only crowd at the NCDOT (North Carolina Department of Transportation) Community Meeting to provide an update on the Potts-Sloan-Beaty construction project. The project, which has been on the drawing board for decades and in the works for years, has entered into the construction phase.

Residents from across Davidson attending the meeting, held at the Ada Jenkins Center cafeteria. Several representatives from NCDOT were joined by representatives from NCDEQ (North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality).

Mayor Rusty Knox and town commissioners were on hand as well as several members of Town staff. In advance of the meeting, town staff sent nine questions that were representative of recurring questions from the community to NCDOT. Following those questions, members of the community were given an opportunity to submit their own questions.

Asbestos was the first topic of discussion since a portion of the construction will run adjacent to the former Carolina Asbestos Company- Davidson plant, a.k.a. the Linden Mill property at the corner of Sloan and Depot Streets.

News of Davidson and other media outlets have devoted extensive coverage to the asbestos plant and the resulting contamination around our community. Just a few of those articles can be found at the following links:

• Davidson Asbestos Site
• “Live” Story Map Site Details Actions Taken to Remediate Asbestos
• Developer Seeks to Redevelop the Former Asbestos Plant
• WFAE Presents Asbestos Town
• WFAE wins Sigma Delta Chi Award for “Asbestos Town,” Produced by David Boraks

NCDOT and NCDEQ representatives talked about a number of specific safety precautions as the abatement phase begins this week. Those measures include fencing, continuous on-site air quality monitoring, suppression techniques (water and surfactant), and PPE (personal protective equipment) for workers.

They also referenced the work on residential properties completed by the EPA and NCDEQ in 2017, specifically noting that they had established a “clean buffer between the DOT project and residential properties.”

In response to a question from the Town about protective barriers, the following detailed information was provided on a slide:

“Site Control and Security

Buckeye Elm will implement a regulated work zone, delineated by safety barricades such as temporary fencing, to control access and ensure compliance with project safety standards. The regulated work area will encompass zones where ACS or ACM disturbances are anticipated.

Temporary fencing will be installed around these zones to restrict unauthorized access, mitigate wind dispersion, and minimize dust migration from work activities.

A post meeting discussion between a member of the community and an NCDOT representative. (News of Davidson)

Buckeye Elm will manage controlled access points (entry/egress) at designated gates along the perimeter, ensuring only authorized personnel with proper PPE and training enter the regulated areas. In accordance with OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1926.1101, asbestos hazard signs will be posted along the fence line.”

The Soil Management Plan for the Davidson Asbestos site can be found at the following link: AsbestosSoilManagement.

Once all the questions about asbestos had been answered, several residents asked why so many large growth trees had been cut down as part of roundabout portion of the project.

NCDOT representatives said that unfortunately a number of large growth trees had to be taken down in order to relocate utilities outside of the roundabout itself. Specifically, “working with gravity sewer, there aren’t a whole lot of paths to take” to relocate in the necessary utilities.

Town Manager Jamie Justice and Special Projects Director Doug Wright answered questions that touched on Town vs. NCDOT responsibilities.

As the final big picture questions were answered, Town Manager Jamie Justice reminded those in attendance that the NCDOT and NCDEQ representatives would be staying to answer any of their specific questions.

Mayor Rusty Knox (News of Davidson photo)

Mayor Rusty Knox closed the meeting by stating that “… this project is now at the disruptive phase for everybody. It’s ugly, and it’s probably going to get more ugly.”

And when the project is completed, “I want everybody to know that 25 is going to mean 25. . .pedestrian safety is going to be the most important thing.”

And with formal portion of the meeting completed, virtually no one left. Many opted to seek answers to questions specific to their property while others broke into small groups to discuss what they heard.