Cedar Hill Road Stabilization and Stream Restoration Project

Milestone timeline:

Site Clearing & Tree Removal Begins
Completed: Jun 16, 2023
June 6, 2023
Boulders Arrive for Shoring Up Road & Bank
Completed: Jun 16, 2023
June 14, 2023
Weeklong Rain Event Delays Work
Completed: Jun 23, 2023
June 19, 2023
GPS Issues Delays Survey Completion for Boulder Installation
Completed: Jun 30, 2023
June 30, 2023
Manual Survey Work Completed
Completed: Jul 4, 2023
July 4, 2023
Boulder Installation Begins
July 5, 2023
Boulder Wall Along Cedar Hill Road
July 10, 2023
Soil Lifts Being Added Above Boulder Wall
July 24, 2023

The Town of Biltmore Forest Public Works Department has been working since mid-2021 on a significant capital project to stabilize approximately 400 linear feet of an unnamed tributary of Fourmile Creek that parallels Cedar Hill Road beginning just South of Hemlock Road. This stretch of creek is unstable and has significantly eroded its banks and is threatening the stability of Cedar Hill Drive and the parallel utilities in this area. Due to this public safety concern, the Town partnered with Jennings Environmental, a local stream restoration engineering company, to design and permit a natural stream restoration and stabilization project for this area.

 Jennings Environmental completed its design and permitting activities in the summer of 2022, and contractors were invited to provide proposals to complete the project in October and November 2022. Baker Grading and Landscaping was the successful bidder for the work which began on the site in mid-May of 2023. The construction project is expected to cost approximately $275,000.

To stabilize the creek and road, the contractor will be moving the creek slightly east away from the road. This new alignment will be more natural in alignment and will have various rock structures in the creek bed and along the banks to control the slope and thus the water velocity, minimizing the potential for erosion and flood damage. The finished product is anticipated to be a very natural looking and, most importantly, stable stream alignment similar to the stream stabilization project completed in Greenwood Park last year.

Unfortunately, the execution of the project will require the removal of a substantial number of trees, which will alter the look of the site. However, the project also includes an extensive replanting plan to revegetate the project area. While the basic structural elements of the project are anticipated to be completed by the end of June, planting work will be performed in multiple phases through the end of the year.

The Town wishes to extend our thanks to the property owners at 2 Hemlock Road for their cooperation, as well as the additional upstream residents for allowing us the ability to utilize their property as a staging area while working on the project.

Plans can be viewed here should the public be interested in better understanding the technical elements of the work. Of course, you can always reach out to the Public Works Department at 828-274-3919, or publicworks@biltmoreforest.org with any specific questions.

Documents

Cedar Hill Road Stabilization Plans
Final Drawings - Cedar Hill Road Stabilization & Stream Restoration
Photo of tree removal along creek bank and Cedar Hill Road
Boulder Installation
Boulder Wall Installation
Boulder Wall Installation along Cedar Hill Road

Project Updates

Soil Lifts Being Added Above Boulder Wall, Along Cedar Hill Road
Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Baker Grading is continuing work along Cedar Hill Road, and now installing soil lifts above the new boulder wall. This effectively increases the amount of road shoulder to an additional three (3) feet wider than what was there before the project began. In doing this, the area will be further stabilized and able to accept plant material in the fall. The Town anticipates shrubs or other non-spreading plantings being placed in this area, in order to keep the road shoulder open for those walking and to keep the area clear of obstructions. 

Photos shown below reflect the work that is ongoing to improve the area. The construction portion of the project is anticipated to conclude within the next two weeks.

Soil Lift Being Installed
Caption

Soil Lift View from Hemlock Road

 

Boulder Wall Installation Continues on Cedar Hill Road
Thursday, July 13, 2023

Baker Grading is continuing their boulder wall installation on Cedar Hill Road. Work is progressing southwest (upstream) and the company will continue building these walls to secure the road and to help relocate the stream to the east. As part of this project, Baker Grading will be moving as much of the dirt removed for this project to Greenwood Park. This dirt will be used to create more level ground and provide new and improved parking spaces for the park.

Boulder and Boulder Wall Installation Begins
Friday, July 7, 2023

Baker Grading has spent much of this week installing boulders along the intersection of Hemlock and Cedar Hill Roads. This boulder wall will help stabilize Cedar Hill Road, and will be the focal point for shifting the creek back into its original banks. 

Site Mobilization and Tree Removal Begins
Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Site mobilization and tree removal for the Cedar Hill Road stabilization and stream restoration project began Tuesday, June 5. The construction portion of this project is scheduled to be complete by the end of June, with additional replantings to take place in fall 2023. The initial thrust of the project will involve lots of tree removal in order to bring boulders in and stabilize the road and relocate the stream. Tree replanting will take place in significantly greater excess than what is being removed, and the attached plans include the full list of replanting scheduled to take place.