Kingsport seeks answers to cracking on Netherland Inn Road roundabout
KINGSPORT — Kingsport has contracted with a local engineering company to figure out why the concrete has cracked at the new roundabout on Netherland Inn Road.
Kingsport opened its latest roundabout at the intersection of East Center Street, Netherland Inn Road and Industry Drive at the first of August, with the $600,000 project aiming to improve traffic flow through the heavily used three-way intersection.
As with the other two newer roundabouts in the city (on Watauga Drive and Gibson Mill Road), the Netherland Inn one is concrete with a landscaped center and a decorative, stamped concrete truck apron. Though city engineers say the truck apron exists and is designed for 18-wheelers to use as they navigate through the roundabout, the apron is cracking around the edges in several locations.
Public Works Director Ryan McReynolds recently updated the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on what’s being done to determine the cause of cracking and how to move forward with repairs.
Kingsport has contracted with local engineering company S&ME to test the structural integrity of the concrete truck apron and make a recommendation on how to fix the problem. Their report is expected to be given to the city this month.
“They performed some cylinder cores at various locations, and all indications are there’s no issues with the structural integrity,” McReynolds said. “We all have theories (as to the cause), and now S&ME are in the process of preparing a report that will describe why the upper portion of the curbing and part of the brick work has broken off.”
Prior to the roundabout opening on Aug. 1, the city estimated approximately 125 tractor-trailers went through that intersection each day to and from Domtar’s chip plant, with the main movement being from Industry to Center and Center to Industry. About 90 percent of all truck traffic through the intersection was chip trucks.
Though this truck traffic has taken its toll on the new roundabout, city officials believe the strength of the concrete is fine for vehicles.
“We don’t feel like it’s a structural issue, but more of a cosmetic issue. There’s not much concern with the road going into failure mode by any means,” McReynolds said. “It’s got to be fixed, and we need to know who needs to be held accountable.”
Kingsport is withholding the final payment to Lyons Construction — the company that built the roundabout — until the matter is resolved, about $70,000 to $80,000 McReynolds said.
“We’ve had a conversation with the contractor so they understand that until this issue is resolved we’re going to hold back enough money that we feel is comfortable to repair (the truck apron) if we have to do it,” McReynolds said, noting repairs would likely begin after the first of the year.
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