Page 11 - May-June2022 Vol 40 No 1

cross the road with a ramp system down
to the building grade.
Instead of bringing the bridge straight
into the building, it was determined to
make the bridge more functional by
incorporating it into the City’s Greenway
goals to link their Riverwalk Greenway
with the Jake Thomas Road Greenway.
Including the bridge, the project
would include approximately a half-
mile of greenway, including 600 feet
covered by a roof system. The bridge and
surrounding pedestrian facilities would
enhance the city’s greenway system by
providing grade-separate access over
Teaster Lane, forming an open bicycle
and pedestrian connection from the
Riverwalk Greenway across Teaster Lane
to the Jake Thomas Road corridor.
Fast-Tracked Project; Compressed
Schedule
Due to the compressed schedule,
the project delivery was broken into
three phases (each individually bid logo to brand the two separate lots as catalyst for economic vitality, according
and constructed). These included the River Lot, next to the Little Pigeon to Earlene Teaster, City Manager of
mass grading of the parking lot, site River, and the Mountain Lot. With the Pigeon Forge.
construction and construction of the use of the pervious pavers, the Gresham “The city is already seeing returns
pedestrian bridge. Smith team continued the branding into on the parking lot investment,” Teaster
This process allowed the firm to the design across the 14-acre parking said. “Since opening, we have not had
complete conceptual design and get the lot with the use of contrasting paver to close roads, rent parking, or provide
grading underway while finalizing the materials. The intent was not only to transportation. We are saving money
pedestrian bridge and parking lot design. create something unique, but also to help not only on direct expense but also on
A single bid was obtained for the define the lot for the high percentage of manpower to organize and staff auxiliary
parking lot phase and was $2.5 million out-of-town visitors. lots and transit.”
over the engineer’s estimate, with New Design: $2 Million Less than “The parking lot is in the center of
the stormwater design making up Original Bid the most explosive growth in the city.
approximately one-third of the total bid. With infiltration meeting water quality We are proud to be a catalyst for growth
Innovative Alternative: Permeable Pavers requirements, the biofiltration islands in the Teaster Lane, Jake Thomas Road
Rising to the budget challenge, were revised to act as overflow structures Boulevard area,” she said.
Gresham Smith worked with the owner for the pavers and as planting areas. This Motorists Now Exit Events More Efficiently
and contractor to choose an alternative design eliminated more than $2 million Phil Campbell, General Manager
design that could reduce total cost of from the original bid. of the LeConte Center, said from an
the project, viewing stormwater design After finishing the parking lot in operational standpoint, the event center’s
as a variable cost. Permeable pavers December 2020, Gresham Smith most notable benefit “is the improved
were chosen as the best solution, which completed the entire project in April ingress and egress from the building.”
combined the costs of the stormwater 2021. Total project budgeted cost was “Before the new parking facility and
and parking pavement structure. $17,152,150, but total project actual bridge, all of our pedestrian traffic exited
An open-graded aggregate base cost was $16,314,615. Now that all three to the old River Lot. The ability to utilize
with impermeable berms was phases of the project are complete, they entrances on both sides of the building
designed to replace the detention for totaled to be approximately $430,000 has essentially cut our large event egress
the approximately 20-acre site. The under the contract budgets. time in half,” Campbell said.
underground detention was reduced to A ”Catalyst for Growth” The project was led by East Tennessee
a closed system HDPE pipe to perform Pigeon Forge officials said the 100% Area Transportation Leader Jason Brady,
as an underdrain for the large aggregate city-funded project was critical to the P.E. and Senior Transportation Engineer
storage area and overflow relief for the future success of both LeConte Event Shap Stiles, P.E. The Gresham Smith
pavers. Center and The Island. In fact, the team included its transportation market,
The project’s wayfinding aspects environmental graphics, structures and
utilized the existing LeConte Center finished project is being touted as a utilities groups.

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