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Historic Preservation Monitoring Report #16 – October 18, 2010

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Lake Champlain Bridge / Chimney Point Historic Site

Historic Preservation Monitoring Report #166

October 11 – October 16, 2010

Distributed: October 18, 2010

HPM Reports are distributed weekly or biweekly, as necessary, and the headings listed below are

standard content. Issues that are still current or require an update will remain in the report. Please

direct all communication regarding this report to Kaitlin O’Shea, Historic Preservation Monitor at:

Kaitlin.O’[email protected] / 802-828-3962 (office) / 802-279-0869 (cell).

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CONTENTS

I. Historic Preservation Monitoring Activities

(Summary of site visits/meetings concerning Chimney Point)

II. Site Plans & Progress

(Changes at the site; Summary of Flatiron plans/schedule for the previous & upcoming

week)

III. Archaeology Monitoring & Field Crew Work Summary

(Summary will be provided through coordination with Kate Kenny, Archaeology Monitor)

IV. Issues & Remediation

(Actions that have been or will be taken. Issues will be marked as New, Update, or Current.

New indicates one that has not been featured in a previous report, whereas update or current

indicate issues addressed in previous reports.)

V. Issues & Recommendations to VDHP

(Recommendations from VTrans HPO)

VI. Contacts

VII. Photographs

VIII. Miscellaneous

___________________________________

I. HISTORIC PRESERVATION MONITORING ACTIVITIES

October 11, 2010

(1) Communication with Kate Kenny, archaeology monitor, regarding a vehicle that drove

into the construction fence on the tavern side. Kenny discussed the situation with Jake

Oronzio (Flatiron). The damage is minimal.

October 13, 2010

(1) On site monitoring.

(2) Discussions with archaeology monitor on recent issues. Discussions with Lyle St. Jean

regarding progress on construction and upcoming work. Spoke with the NY

Archaeology Monitor to learn about current monitoring work in New York.

(3) Meeting with Elsa Gilbertson (Site Administrator), Judith Ehrlich (DHP), and David

Raphael (LandWorks in Middlebury) to begin conversations and preliminary ideas for


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and considerations for the placement of the historic Lake Champlain Bridge pier. Points

of discussion included views to frame, views and landscape features to avoid, how to

work the pier into the story of the whole site, how the site is used, and how the pier can

be incorporated in a meaningful manner.

II. SITE PLANS & PROGRESS

Work in Vermont during the week of 10/11 – 10/6 included soil nail installation

completion, formwork on the abutment, concrete setting/drying on the abutment, and

rebar/form work on Pier 7. Work was isolated to these areas. During the week of 10/18

– 10/23, work will continue on Pier 7 and the abutment, with planned work on the T-

wall excavation (which often depends on the weather and mud conditions).

III. ARCHAEOLOGY MONITORING SUMMARY

Archaeology monitor, Kate Kenny, continues to be on site on a daily basis and

communicates regularly with the HPM and the contractor, as well as VTrans, & VDHP.

The AM produces weekly reports, which are distributed by John Crock, UVM CAP. This

week the problem was the fabric/fill pad to the northwest corner of the abutment.

Please see the Archaeology Monitoring report for further information.

IV. ISSUES & REMEDIATION

See previous reports for past issues and background information.

(1) Issue: Site Protection – Fencing (New)

The orange/snow fence is torn in some places and appears to be deteriorating with

time and weather. Where the fence is ripped it is often just slipped over the stake,

over that is not a permanent solution and eventually the fence falls to the ground.

There is potential that sections of the fence will need to be replaced throughout the

season. The orange fencing is critical for the delineation between the access road,

construction areas, and the sensitive, historically significant site.

Remediation: The HPM will continue to monitor the condition of the fence and

discuss the issues with Flatiron & NYSDOT EIC.

(2) Issue: Vibration Monitoring and Crack in Woodwork at Chimney Point Tavern

(Current)

Site administrator, Elsa Gilbertson, noticed a crack in the woodwork near the

chimney in the main room of the tavern on September 6, 2010, which was not

previously there. Vibration reports do not indicate significant disturbance, so the

cause is currently unknown.

Remediation: The cracks have been documented and are being monitored by the

Chimney Point staff. The Division for Historic Preservation and VTrans are

working to determine the cause of the cracks. Flatiron had expressed concern


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regarding the crack and conferred with the HPM about access to the building. DHP

preferred that their own agency investigate the cracks prior to outside inspection.

The VTrans HPO checked the cracks on 9/22/10, which had not grown in size.

Work will not be carried out until approved by the Vermont SHPO and the VTrans

HPO.

UPDATE: As indicated in Report #14, the limiting value for the peak particle

velocity of vibration monitor readings has been lowered to .5 in/sec from .75 in/sec.

This is the better option for the historic resources, especially as the USBM Report RI

8507 indicates that .5 in/sec is appropriate for structures with plaster surfaces. This

limiting value will remain at .5 in/sec unless otherwise necessary. The HPM

continues to receive the daily reports from Jake Oronzio of Flatiron.

(3) Issue: Communication with Flatiron Re: Schedule and Site Happenings (Current

– No Change)

Due to the number of contractors and subcontractors working in Vermont, finding

the right person to talk to is necessary in order to save time and energy on countless

email forwards. The issue that triggered this was the condition of the orange fence,

which had been ripped or cut in select locations. Additionally, understanding the

schedule is best achieved when talking to someone on the ground rather than

reading from the predicted schedule.

Remediation: When on site, the HPM is able to meet with Jake Oronzio of Flatiron to

talk about any upcoming activities that could affect the site. If not on site, Oronzio

can easily contact the HPM via phone or email.

(4) Issue: Dust Suppression (Current – No Change)

Dust control is an issue of concern for the protection of the site and the people. A

water truck did not resolve the dust problem, so VT SHPO concurred with

NYSDOT that calcium chloride could be spread on the road in order to prevent

dust.

Remediation: According to NYSDOT EIC, Jeff Brown, calcium chloride is spread

weekly, but can be spread more often if necessary. On Thursday the HP Monitor

mentioned that the dust was starting to pick up again (minor amounts, but more so

than earlier in the week). The EIC said he would have the calcium chloride put down

on the road again.

(4) Issue: Changes to the Programmatic Agreement (Current)

The VT SHPO is recommending that the LCB Programmatic Agreement be

amended to reflect changes made necessary by closure of the historic site.

As the changes concern only Section III (Chimney Point), Section III(H)(1),

excerpted below, applies. The VTrans HPO has indicated this would be the most


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appropriate and expeditious mechanism to formalize changes to the PA. Discussions

are continuing.

A. CHANGES TO CHIMNEY POINT CONDITIONS

1. Changes to the Section III (Chimney Point) Programmatic Agreement Conditions

that are reasonably required to carry out the construction of the new replacement bridge

may be made, however they must be reviewed and approved in writing by the

VTRANS HPO in consultation with the VT SHPO in advance of implementing

any changes.

Remediation: On September 8, 2010 at the State Historic Preservation Office in

Montpelier, VT, staff of VTrans and Agency of Commerce & Community

Development (including the SHPO) met to discuss the Programmatic Agreement,

restoration plans for Chimney Point, the flow of communication between the

agencies, and other necessary issues. Attendees included Giovanna Peebles, Scott

Dillon, John Kessler, Scott Newman, Jen Russell, John Narowski, and Kaitlin

O’Shea. Regarding the Programmatic Agreement, it was decided that necessary

changes due to the closure of Chimney Point Historic Site may be carried out

between VTrans and the VT SHPO, as detailed the Programmatic Agreement

Section III(H)(1).

(5) Issue: Access Road Alterations and Protection of Associated Resources

(Current)

The issue concerns crane placement, movement, and the protection and affects to

the cultural resources, archaeological and historic.

Remediation: On August 26, 2010 VTrans, VDHP, NYSDOT, Flatiron, and ACOE

attended an onsite meeting to discuss options of the road alterations. Issues brought

to attentive by respective agencies included permit issues (6f, 4f), feasibility, cost, and

time. The significance of the Chimney Point Historic Site means warrants complete

protection, which rules out any cut through the landscape and anything may cause

ground disturbance. At the end of the meeting the options that remained included

(1) using two cranes to minimize the need to move the cranes or (2) using large

amounts of fill to create a temporary, larger access road. Currently Flatiron is

developing new plans regarding the discussed options.

On Wednesday September 1, 2010, Paul Rudloff (Flatiron Engineer) and Tim Brown

(Flatiron Surveyor) explained the new crane placement plan to the HP Monitor on

site. Paul will send plans to VTrans AO. Four new pins with pink flagging tape have

been set in the ground to show the four corners of the 40’ x 40’ placement. Two are

set in between the orange fence and white post-and-chain fence. The pins will


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remain in the ground. The HP Monitor can explain the placement on site to the CP

Site Administrator or other authority.

(6) Issue: Safety & Access (Current – No Change)

Protocols remain the same, and now Flatiron has installed signage near their lot and

at the top of the access roads. Signs require that all visitors check in at the field office

and anyone entering the site must wear the appropriate PPE: hardhat, safety vest,

safety glasses, and gloves.

(7) Issue: Communication Protocol (Current – No Change)

The VT SHPO (VTDHP) and CP Site Administrator would like to be informed of

any activity that will be occurring on the Chimney Point property, whether the

activity involves survey stakes, sign installation, or something of greater magnitude.

Recent activity (survey stakes, safety requirements sign) has happened unexpectedly

for VTDHP.

Remediation: To simplify the communication web, the easiest way to inform agencies

of activity is to contact the monitors. Either the HPM or AM is on site daily,

Monday-Friday. Both can be easily reached on site or by phone by the contractors

and other agencies. The monitors can then report to VTrans and VTDHP about

activity and obtain any necessary information. If the monitors are unavailable, the

VTrans HPO, VTrans AO, or CP Site Administrator should be contacted.

V. ISSUES & RECOMMENDATIONS to VDHP

None outstanding at this time.

VI. CONTACTS

Please note that there is a current list of contacts including New York, Vermont, and

Flatiron contacts, which has been distributed by Andrea Becker – NYSDOT. Please

see previous reports for the contact information list that has been included here.


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VII. PHOTOGRAPHS

October 13, 2010: The Vermont abutment with the form work removed after the concrete set. Note

the 2011 date on the side of the headwall. Rebar work continues on the wingwalls.


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October 13, 2010: Looking towards Pier 7 in the foreground and Pier 6 in the background. Both

show the Y shape of the piers through the rebar and form work.


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October 13, 2010: A view of the work in Vermont from the ferry. Pier 6 is visible in the center of

the photograph. Chimney Point State Historic Site is to the right.

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS

None at this time.

direct all communication regarding this report to kaitlin ... · dillon, john kessler, scott...

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