The Oak Valley Ln. paving project just got cheaper…22% cheaper!
Some behind-the-scenes work by Wendy Armel (who along with husband George Yost are building at the corner of Oak Valley Ln. and French Dr.) prompted the DOT to conduct some additional investigation on our case. Having this website with all its information helped, too. Here’s what happened.
- Originally the engineer who came out to examine Oak Valley Ln. specified TWO applications of AST (asphalt surface treatment…or tar and gravel). That would ordinarily be “standard fare” and the minimum expectation for a road at our level of disrepair. Our first quote was based upon two layers of AST, and if you’ve taken a field trip to see the road, you can spot “AST2” spray painted in a few places.
- Recently Wendy followed up with the DOT on a matter brought up by several neighbors after this website went live. Some noted that the DOT’s letter to us dated Dec. 6, 2023 spelled out what we need to do to fix the road, but they failed to expressly state that by doing so the road would henceforth be eligible for state maintenance. We now have a second letter that does clarify that after the work is performed, an inspection will occur. At that point we’ve been told that there is paperwork to be filled out (not by us but by the DOT). That will be submitted to higher-ups in the NC DOT, but basically it’s a rubber stamp thing.
- During discussions with the regional DOT office on this matter, they were able to nail down that our entire subdivision is on the calendar for repaving in 2026, just two years away. DOT also took a good look at our website and saw, for the first time, the quote we originally received from Hunt’s Paving. Then there was an epiphany moment. Two coats of AST has a projected lifespan of six to seven years. In our case that’s overkill since we really only need for the road to remain in decent shape for a couple of years. Because of this, the regional engineers told us that they were going to TRY and get the AST treatment reduced to just one “heavy” coat instead of two regular coats.
- However, the local DOT office isn’t empowered to simply decree this, so the idea was presented to the main DOT office in Raleigh. It took a few days to get a judgement, but everyone agreed that this was a sensible solution. Not only would it reduce the financial burden on us, but it also should keep this small stretch of Oak Valley Ln. on the same schedule for repairs and maintenance as all other roads in Townsend Forest phases two and three.
- The local DOT office itself went back to Hunt’s Paving with the new specs and to explain why they had changed. After a few more days, Hunt’s Paving presented us with a new quote which we received Feb. 26. That quote was for $4,000 less than the original quote. A PDF of the new quote is available from the downloads page of this site.