Grading Stones and sidewalks started at Gastonia

 

Crews worked all week prepping subgrade and getting the north main drive ready for stone. Some areas required an undercut after not passing proof roll initially.

 

Stone was used to spread the roads around the site to bring to grade. A motorgrader was used to spread the stone. The crews used water to assist in making sure that the optimum density is achieved.

 

A roller was used in the final step to compact the stone. The density requirement for the stone is 100% per AASHTO T99 standards.

 

Site crews have worked to get the last lifts of fill in the parking lot area so that concrete curb and gutter can be poured. The crews will fine-grade the parking lot for stone after the curb and gutter is done.

 

The crews installed a 55 foot wide raft that the basket walls sit on. The white fabric is a high strength geotextile material that wraps the raft.

 

Landscape crew installed the topsoil mix for the planter boxes in the front of the building. There is 3’ of topsoil over a 12” layer of stone. The fabric that covers the stone is for filtration purposes only. It acts as a barrier between the stone and topsoil.

Bailing material was placed in the center of the arches by a larger excavator as a mini-excavator placed it for compaction. This is a very slow process, but with the two crews working together it is progressing nicely.

 

Sidewalks are beginning to take shape and the crews are slated to start the pours this week. Preparation was completed last Friday.

 

Backer rods and colored caulk was completed on the outside of the building and as they finish, the painters are right behind them priming the walls.

 

Paint crews began priming the outside walls of the building and as of last Friday had completed 3 sides. The painting will begin this week as they finalize the last wall.

 

Blocking and framework has been completed in entrance and guest services area. Drywall was started and is on track to finish on schedule.