Giant Crack in the Blue Ridge Parkway

**jlreeves** · 07-20-2013, 09:16 AM

Our outrageous amounts of rain have caused a 150 foot long 4 inch crack to appear in the BRP. They say the road one one side is 2 inches lower than the other side. It has been measured to have moved an inch a day in some places.

It started on 07-12-2013 and the road is now closed to motor vehicle traffic from Milepost 376, a few miles north of Asheville, to Milepost 355 at N.C. 128 at Mount Mitchell State Park.

http://www.citizen-times.com/article...-Parkway-grows

**glwilson** · 07-20-2013, 11:08 AM

I have ridden that section before. Nice ride to Mt. Mitchell.

It seems there are always slope-stabilization problems with BRP though. The nature of those mountains. Satellite pics show all kinds of areas where the slopes are sliding out over the years.

Guess the engineers just have to dance the dance with nature in that area...

Sin City Stan · 07-20-2013, 12:04 PM

It's kind of amazing that the crack follows the centerline.

Looks like a long and expensive fix is in store.

smokey · 07-21-2013, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sin City Stan

It's kind of amazing that the crack follows the centerline.

Looks like a long and expensive fix is in store.

crack follows the centre line usually due to the fact that a road is paved one side at a time, the centre line is basically where the two sides join, and probably the weakest part. Most roads will start to crack in that area.

Sin City Stan · 07-21-2013, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smokey

crack follows the centre line usually due to the fact that a road is paved one side at a time, the centre line is basically where the two sides join, and probably the weakest part. Most roads will start to crack in that area.

I understand surface cracks down the centerline but this seems to be cracking all the way through the subgrade. That's what seems odd to me. It's as if each side of the road was built separately.

**glwilson** · 07-21-2013, 10:18 PM

There was a picture of a road in Japan that split along the centerline; as the BRP did.

Many people thought it was photoshopped... but it wasn't. It was real: however, the road in Japan was nearly two-feet in level difference (instead of just a few inches), and it went for over 200 yards.

I mentioned this is a previous post; but a google earth view of the BRP shows many spots in the Blue Ridge Mountains where the slopes are sliding out and away.

If you look at this particular spot on google earth; there are houses below the slide-out area. They could be in danger if the side of that mountain ever gives away in a big-way.

**Jared** · 07-20-2013, 08:49 PM

That would make one heck of a tar snake.

dabull · 07-21-2013, 11:45 AM

i'm planning on riding the BRP to the VRA rally in PA next year.....hope they can get this fixed, kinda a bucket list ride along with the Shenandoah Vally ride....

**coacha** · 07-21-2013, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dabull

i'm planning on riding the BRP to the VRA rally in PA next year.....hope they can get this fixed, kinda a bucket list ride along with the Shenandoah Vally ride....

If you weren't out in Hawaii blowing things up all the time, you coulda already done both of those with us!

dabull · 07-29-2013, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coacha

If you weren't out in Hawaii blowing things up all the time, you coulda already done both of those with us!

wouldn't that have been special :)

**coacha** · 07-30-2013, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dabull

wouldn't that have been special :)

You gotta come hang out with Kawhead, Cliff, Dick, Tom and the rest of the gang again sometime. I promise no biblical rain storms

Old Bear · 07-21-2013, 12:53 PM

Budget cuts - push off the downhill side and turn it into the worlds longest one-lane highway! Or maybe motorcycle-only highway? Just kidding!

**Kawhead** · 07-21-2013, 04:56 PM

I live near the thing, and the road is a giant patched up pot hole infested disaster. Privatize it, charge a toll, lease or sell space for Wal-Marts, restaurants and hotel chains, and kill off the damm stupid squirrels and bunny rabbits.
That'll make me happy.

Oh yeah, and don't let bicyclist, poor people or folks without a voter ID use it neither.

**coacha** · 07-21-2013, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawhead

I live near the thing, and the road is a giant patched up pot hole infested disaster. Privatize it, charge a toll, lease or sell space for Wal-Marts, restaurants and hotel chains, and kill off the damm stupid squirrels and bunny rabbits.
That'll make me happy.

Oh yeah, and don't let bicyclist, poor people or folks without a voter ID use it neither.

At least the don't stop in the middle of the road up there, blocking both lanes and have a dozen Japanese out on the road with two cameras each taking pictures of squirrels and bunnies.

**Kawhead** · 07-22-2013, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coacha

At least the don't stop in the middle of the road up there, blocking both lanes and have a dozen Japanese out on the road with two cameras each taking pictures of squirrels and bunnies.

Oh, come on now. Don't be such a hard very toned, squeezable, fine ass.

07-20-2013, 09:16 AM	#1
jlreeves Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Roswell, GA Posts: 888	Giant Crack in the Blue Ridge Parkway Our outrageous amounts of rain have caused a 150 foot long 4 inch crack to appear in the BRP. They say the road one one side is 2 inches lower than the other side. It has been measured to have moved an inch a day in some places. It started on 07-12-2013 and the road is now closed to motor vehicle traffic from Milepost 376, a few miles north of Asheville, to Milepost 355 at N.C. 128 at Mount Mitchell State Park. http://www.citizen-times.com/article...-Parkway-grows __________________ 2008 Nomad 1600 Black/Red _________________________________________ VulcanBagger #01711, VRA/GA VRA, SCRC, VROC #29671, AMA #1085989, Red Knights MC GA-18 Pres, PGR _________________________________________ Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-20-2013, 11:08 AM	#2
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	I have ridden that section before. Nice ride to Mt. Mitchell. It seems there are always slope-stabilization problems with BRP though. The nature of those mountains. Satellite pics show all kinds of areas where the slopes are sliding out over the years. Guess the engineers just have to dance the dance with nature in that area... __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417 Last edited by glwilson; 07-20-2013 at 11:22 AM.
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07-20-2013, 12:04 PM	#3
Sin City Stan Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 3,746	It's kind of amazing that the crack follows the centerline. Looks like a long and expensive fix is in store. __________________ Oldest Saloon In Nevada http://www.pioneersaloon.info/ "Sin City Stan" Henderson, NV VBA #01004 VROC #29365 2004 Nomad 1500L5 +100 "The Bike" 2009 Nomad 1700 (past) 2004 Vulcan Classic 800 (past) 2010 Cortez - 2011 Crescent City - 2012 Kanab - 2013 Estes Park
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07-21-2013, 10:18 PM	#6
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	There was a picture of a road in Japan that split along the centerline; as the BRP did. Many people thought it was photoshopped... but it wasn't. It was real: however, the road in Japan was nearly two-feet in level difference (instead of just a few inches), and it went for over 200 yards. I mentioned this is a previous post; but a google earth view of the BRP shows many spots in the Blue Ridge Mountains where the slopes are sliding out and away. If you look at this particular spot on google earth; there are houses below the slide-out area. They could be in danger if the side of that mountain ever gives away in a big-way. __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
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07-20-2013, 08:49 PM	#7
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	That would make one heck of a tar snake. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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07-21-2013, 11:45 AM	#8
dabull Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,409	i'm planning on riding the BRP to the VRA rally in PA next year.....hope they can get this fixed, kinda a bucket list ride along with the Shenandoah Vally ride....
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07-21-2013, 12:53 PM	#12
Old Bear Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 1,434	Budget cuts - push off the downhill side and turn it into the worlds longest one-lane highway! Or maybe motorcycle-only highway? Just kidding! __________________ Jerry "Old Bear" Barker Clarksville, TN Americas Guardians PS MC President, Tennessee 16-A VBA #02203 "Blaze" 2017 Vaquero "Black Magic" 2011 Vaquero, 69k miles, handed down to my son for hopefully many more miles!
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07-21-2013, 04:56 PM	#13
Kawhead Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 6th Floor up at the The Nervous Hospital up in East Central State, NC Posts: 7,454	I live near the thing, and the road is a giant patched up pot hole infested disaster. Privatize it, charge a toll, lease or sell space for Wal-Marts, restaurants and hotel chains, and kill off the damm stupid squirrels and bunny rabbits. That'll make me happy. Oh yeah, and don't let bicyclist, poor people or folks without a voter ID use it neither. __________________ ??-Mar.2,2012 "Rocky" My Beloved Dog RIP Mike Tripp VBA#767 '96 800 Vulcan Classic 06 1600 Nomad 07 1600 Nomad "The shoes you buy at the Salvation Army is already been broke in"- Aunt Kawhead
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