Thursday, Sept. 30

I wasn't planning on writing an entry today, but when the story comes to you I suppose you might as well go for it.  I was leaving my apartment this afternoon to go pay my rent and ran into construction traffic before I even got off of Oak St., which is at the west end of the construction zone.  A front-end loader was crossing the street loading a dump truck with rock and dirt from the two large piles that have accumulated on both sides of the intersection of Oak St. and Highway 421.  While Oak St. isn't a major thoroughfare, it does carry a solid amount of traffic for a residential street.  That's why it surprised me that there wasn't anyone directing traffic around the front-end loader or any signs warning of the construction taking place.  The front-end loader nearly backed into a car that was pulling out of a driveway behind it and the dump truck it was loading was blocking any incoming traffic from turning onto the street from 421.  As I pulled out of Oak St., rain began to fall again as the forecast of sunshine for the day was once again inaccurate.  The rain, while not heavy, was enough to scrap work for the day for most of the construction zone.  However, there were some AT&T crews working on phone lines throughout the construction zone as two trucks were performing maintenance to poles and lines within the zone.

I was able to take a few pictures before the heavier rain settled in this afternoon.  They are shown below.

One of the deep ground drillers in its inactive state.

The beams in place that the deep ground drillers have been digging holes for.

The retaining wall that has been constructed next to the Hardee's parking lot to separate it from the Highway.

The crane that has been used to move beams and equipment on the site.

Expansion work alongside the highway.

This picture shows just how close the expansion is in proximity to New Market Cinema.

Wednesday, Sept. 29

A miscue on the weather forecast didn't hinder construction crews from going back to work on the Highway 421 expansion project.  After rain kept work to a minimum on Monday, sunshine returned on Tuesday and was expected to be present on Wednesday.  Wednesday's weather came in stark contrast to the forecast as thick cloud cover, dense fog, and a steady but fine mist littered the skies of the High Country.  Despite these unfavorable conditions, today turned out to be one of the busiest days yet at the work site.  Heavy machinery and equipment was moving and active all across the construction zone by the time lunch hour arrived.  Work was paused alongside Hardee's as the damp weather hindered further progress on the brick retaining wall and cementing in the area.  Nearby however, work had increased in pace alongside the New Market Center park and ride lot.

All prior workdays had only featured one deep ground driller at work.  Today's workload was apparently increased as a second deep ground driller was on site being prepared to begin digging alongside the other one.  This second driller was likely on hand because the rain softened soil from the beginning of the week had created easier digging and crews were probably hoping to take advantage of the soft soil to make quick progress.  The driller that was already in operation was digging deep to prepare the space needed for another steel support beam.

At the intersection of New Market Dr. and the highway, a front end loader was loading large chunks of cement and pavement into a dump truck.  These chunks were being removed from the ground by a hydraulic excavator.  Just yards away from this activity, a backhoe was using its jackhammer feature to pound through the pavement for a reason to be discovered soon.  A little further northbound, another excavator was in motion, removing initial layers of pavement from the road in front of Modern Toyota.  A pavement roller, sealant spraying trucks, and a pair of street sweepers were nearby waiting for activity, a sure sign that paving will begin soon on the parts of the highway that are currently under construction.

Monday, Sept. 27

A steady mist, occasional showers, and frequent periods of thick fog didn't deter construction crews from working on expanding Highway 421 in Boone.  Rains that started on Sunday continued into Monday as crews braved the less than ideal weather to do their jobs.  Morning activity was once again slow as a few workers could be spotted surveying the area, planning their jobs for the day and how they would have to adjust plans due to the inclement conditions.  However, by 10am activity had picked up a little.

A handful of workers were working with and alongside the deep ground driller that was digging new holes for steel beams to go in place for continued support and roadside expansion alongside the New Market Center park and ride lot.  Upon further review, no other activity was taking place at the site for the day.  All of the other heavy equipment was inactive as it appeared that other workers had been given the day off due to the weather.  The crew working with the steel beams appeared to be making accelerated progress thanks to the soil being softened by the weekend rain.  Forecasts show the weather clearing up for the rest of the week, so regular work should continue tomorrow assuming the ground dries in time for work hours.

Friday, Sept. 24

As I traveled Highway 421 on the way to work on Friday morning, activity was slow as many employees had yet to arrive.  The lone job that was in motion was a worker on the top of the already constructed retaining wall along the southbound side of the highway.  This wall has two layers, and aside from extra support, I had yet to understand the purpose of making the wall two layers thick until Friday.  The worker on top of the wall was standing on the dirt area between the two sections of the wall hammering in extra support stakes.  By adding the second layer, it makes it easier for construction workers to repair either section of the wall and also to add support along the way.

On my journey back to my apartment from work, activity had picked up on the northbound side of the highway as work continued in front of Modern Toyota and the High Country 4x4 Center.  On Friday however, activity wasn't normal.  The typical digging to install cement piping had given way to deeper and more expansive digging to install two large steel cubes.  Columns supported two large steel plates, one that rested on the ground and the other that stayed near the ground level.  Excavators were hard at work in front High Country 4x4 Center clearing the way for the steel cube, while the one in front of Modern Toyota was already lowered in place.  This work involved multiple workers at both installation sites.  These were the highlights from Friday's activity along the highway.

Thursday, Sept. 23

After not going to work on Wednesday, I made a trip to New Market Center on Thursday afternoon to get some groceries and take in some of the activity I had missed at the construction site on Wednesday.  By the time I came through, not much was taking place at the site, and really the only noticeable difference was the continued progress in the digging up of the ground, the installation of the cement piping, and the covering of the ditches with gravel and soil.  Progress on this part of the project continued at a steady pace on Wednesday and Thursday as the two ends of the digging, one near the High Country 4x4 Center, and the other near Modern Toyota, continued their eventual destination to meet in the middle of the distance they are covering.  This section of the roadway has been by far the most active over the past week or so and it seems as though crews are committed to getting as much done on that portion of the road as possible until the grading and expanding alongside New Market Center is complete.

Later on Thursday night, I decided to take a walk up to the construction site.  My apartment is only yards away from the beginning point of the project nearest to Highway 321.  I approached the site with the intentions of seeing how pedestrian friendly the area was for those who frequently walk in this part of town.  The section of sidewalks that line this section of Highway 421 is popular for students who live along the highway from just beyond the Highway 105 Extension intersection all the way to the end of the construction area near Appalachian State's campus.  Along the southbound side of the highway, there is currently no sidewalk, and crews haven't made a safe path for students and other pedestrians to walk along.  I've always noticed when traveling the route that students and bikers who try to stay off the road going southbound are always dangerously close to the road and drivers often have to swerve to miss them.  They really have no choice though.  Most apartments through that stretch of highway are on the southbound side of the highway and they have to stay out of the active construction zone as they walk closely to the highway.  I never realized its danger until I walked along the highway myself.  Meanwhile the sidewalks on the northbound side of the highway, which are still intact, are in poor condition.  There are many places sections of the sidewalk that have been cut out and replaced with uneven pavement or poorly laid cement.  There are also sections that have damaged and cut down by various pieces of construction equipment.  None of the sidewalks in the construction zone are safe and should be better kept for all of the pedestrians that must continue to travel alongside the highway.

Monday, Sept. 20

After a day off, the roadwork on Highway 421 continued Monday.  Much of the activity taking place on Monday was the same as what was going on last Friday, but there were a few new developments.  Work on the brick wall neighboring the Hardee's parking lot continued at a rapid pace.  By 1 p.m., the wall had advanced from barely visible from the road on Friday to approximately 3 feet above ground.  At the New Market Center park and ride lot portion of the project, the deep ground drill returned to action as it dug out holes for more steel beams.  Along its side, a small hydraulic excavator was at work removing the dirt that the drill loosened.  Grading and extension of the road side was taking place alongside the New Market Cinema.

The cement pipe installation taking place from Modern Toyota to the High Country 4x4 Center was completed as dirt and gravel were used to cover up the ditches.  The same construction was now continuing from the High Country 4x4 Center to the Town of Boone Public Works Center as ditches were being dug by a hydraulic excavator for more cement pipes to be installed.  Another excavator was beginning to break up and move dirt, rock, and other debris that had been piled up just to the east of Oak St.  The dirt will likely be used to help grading alongside the New Market park and ride lot and the cinema.  That not used will probably be hauled off to another site.

The biggest new development of the day was the return of land surveyors to the site.  The surveyors were in front of the Town of Boone Public Works Center working with their level placed atop a tripod examining the site being dug to make sure that appropriate grades and slopes were being kept with the excavating and replacing of ground taking place.  Monday appeared to be the beginning of another busy week at the site as only a small chance of rain on Wednesday threatens to delay road work.

Saturday, Sept. 18 & Sunday, Sept. 19

Construction is a lot like journalism; when there are deadlines to be met, work never rests.  As left for home early on Saturday morning, I drove past an inactive worksite along Highway 421.  However, when I returned to Boone just a few hours later for the Appalachian football game, there was a little bit of activity at the worksite.  While it was minimal, there were a few people working on the New Market Center park and ride section of the project and a small front end loader at work in front of Modern Toyota.  There were only a handful of workers and the heavy machinery was inactive, but there was still activity at the site.

With work going on Saturday, I somewhat expected work to be taking going on as I passed the site to and from church on Sunday.  However, the only sounds at the work site were cars passing by as no construction was taking place.

Friday, Sept. 17

Friday was not only a busy day, but a day when many new projects began on the Highway 421 project.  Alongside Hardee's, work seems to be picking up in an effort for the restaurant to resume business as normal.  The construction of a brick wall started to emerge next to the highway, which will act a divider between the future road and the parking lot for Hardee's.  The restaurant has already lost some of its parking that it will not get back so it will be interesting to see how they realign the lot and try to regain lost spaces.

Just yards away alongside the New Market Center park and ride lot, steel cylindrical beams were being vertically put in place to support the roadway and the future retaining wall.  The beams come up about 5 feet above the highway's ground level.

The cement pipes that were having their ditches being dug earlier in the week were now being lowered into the ground.  That was taking place from Modern Toyota all the way to the High Country 4x4 Center.  Meanwhile, at the intersection of Highway 421 and the Highway 105 Extension, AT&T utility crews were working underground using a manhole as an entrance way.  This was a busy Friday with progress becoming more evident every day.

Wednesday, Sept. 15

Mild temperatures combined with sunshine created an ideal day for construction work in Boone on Wednesday.  Crews were hard at work on several different areas of the project.  The crane, which was partially together on Monday, was completely intact today, but inactive as I passed through twice today.  A smaller crane was being used to lift a heavy cement mixer into tight spots along the ridge that runs along the Highway and the New Market Cinema.

Further west (northbound) along the Highway, another new construction machine was on the scene and being put to work.  A deep ground driller, similar to but a great deal larger than a well drill, was digging through the dry summer terrain to reach well below the surface.  It appeared it was being used to dig a trench for a pipeline as not only was it digging down, but it was also being drug across the road.  I have never seen one of these devices used for anything other than simply digging into the ground, so I was surprised to see it being used to form a trench.  Out of pure assumption, I would assume that this method is used in the mountains because of the extremely rocky soil and terrain.  Cement was being poured into the ditch, likely to make a secure foundation for the underground pipeline.  Just ahead of it was a hydraulic excavator tearing apart the ground level.  The same excavator was carefully pulling away the initial level of asphalt on Monday, but was being used to go deeper into the ground today, preparing the way for the deep ground driller to come behind it.

Work on the existing road has recently been reduced to the small stretch from New Market Center Drive up to the High Country 4x4 Center.  The stretch from New Market Center Drive to Highway 194 has seen all of its work being focused on work along the ridge between Highway 421 and New Market Center.  It has been interesting to see when Entry/Exit drives to New Market Center have been open and closed.  Confusing enough with all of the construction equipment and barrel markers along the road, various driveways alternate from being open to closed almost continuously.  I have also wondered why AppalCart hasn't moved its stop that is located at one of the New Market Center driveways.  Students and citizens are standing in the middle of a construction zone while waiting for the bus to arrive.  I would think safety concerns would be a top priority around such a major construction site, especially when a simple relocation of the bus stop could solve the problem.  Some safety issues involved would be hearing and physical injury.

Monday, Sept. 13

After several days without activity, work resumed on the Highway 421 expansion project on Monday.  Various new developments were underway as I made my way to and from work.  The most notable was the crane, which was moved to the site last week was finally in use lifting piping along the roadside, with what seemed to be a large (roughly 150 feet) extension to the crane already pieced together and waiting to be added for more strenuous parts of the project.

Also in motion was the continued removal of the top road surface on the portion of the road that is currently closed.  A hydraulic excavator was in motion in front of Modern Toyota to pull away the highest level of asphalt.

A final note on Monday's construction was the presence of a few new trucks on site.  No, not construction vehicles, but AT&T utility trucks.  Representatives from AT&T appeared to be discussing the issue of phone lines that hover over the project.  I'm not sure if they were there to fix a problem, or simply there in the event that a problem arose, but two of their trucks were on the site.

Friday, Sept. 10

On my trips to and from work today, I again expected to see some form of construction taking place along 421, but again I guessed wrong.  There was a new addition to the construction site coming in the form of a crane and its rigging equipment.  The initial base of the crane (on a truck) caught my eye as it stood around 50 feet in the air, towering above the surroundings.

While that was brought in, not much else seemed to have changed, though looking back on the day now, I can kind of see why there was no work going on today.  For starters, the threat of rain from cloudy skies loomed all day, resulting in the occasional shower.  Secondly, the first home football game of the season for Appalachian State is tomorrow, so workers probably didn't want to have to cause lane shifts with so many people coming to town for tomorrow's game.  A slow day on the highway preceding the chaotic traffic that is sure to ensue tomorrow with the home opening football game on tap.

Thursday, Sept. 9

Having not traveled 421 this week as of yet, I decided to make a nightcap trip through the construction zone this evening.  As construction throughout the summer had often taken place at night I somewhat expected there to be quite a bit of activity tonight.  To my surprise, possibly because the mid-summer heat has now mostly passed, there was no construction taking place tonight.

However, the area hadn't gone unchanged since last week.  There are now an array of pre-constructed cement ditch pipes scattered alongside the northbound side of the highway.  Some are smaller in comparison to the several large ones that dot the landscape.  Also of note is the encroachment of construction and grading on parking lots in the New Market shopping center.  Hardee's has lost a significant stretch of parking to the road expansion and a retaining wall now separates the minimized parking lot from the road.  The park and ride lot between the movie theatre and Hardee's has also lost a significant amount of parking to the construction.  It is likely that other businesses in the New Market area will also lose parking to the road work.

Friday, Sept. 3

A project that started over a year ago has often been a headache and source of frustration for many motorists in Boone.  When complete, the US Highway 421 expansion project from the Hardin St. intersection to the NC Highway 194 intersection will relieve traffic tremendously in the heavily congested area.  However keeping the road open amidst construction has proven difficult.

From the demolition of businesses and homes, to the cutting out of a hillside, to the building of a massive retaining wall, to the construction of the current temporary lanes, the project has progressed nicely.  But as many motorists know, going in and out of Boone via US 421 has often been a slow drive in recent months.  The project, which has now shifted traffic to newly paved temporary lanes so that the old lanes could be worked on, entered an interesting phase yesterday.  I travel through the construction area making at least three round trips per week to commute to and from work.  My most recent trip saw an entire line of trees and shrubbery alongside the northbound lanes being removed.  This line of trees previously sat right next to the New Market Center movie theater.  I didn't realize or think that the lane expansions would also happen on the north-bound side of the road, especially with the limited amount of space along that side with multiple businesses and car dealerships.  This will prove to be an interesting development in the project.  Also new to the construction was the removal of parts of the old lanes that went north-bound.  This is taking place so that new pavement can be poured and not raise the road levels higher causing curb and drainage/sewage problems.  These are two new developments that I will follow in a project that will greatly impact the flow of traffic into the heart of the High Country.  I will end this entry with a question for you the reader.  Just how much of an impact has the Highway 421 expansion project had on your routine commutes?