Blowing Rock approves $242,700 contract to repair Wonderland Trail slope damaged in storm

Blowing Rock Town Council on Dec. 10 approved a $242,700 contract with Mountain Crest LLC to repair a slope failure and shoulder damage on Wonderland Trail in the Mayview neighborhood caused by recent storm runoff.

The work, which town staff and an engineering consultant described to the council, calls for staggered gabion baskets (wire mesh baskets filled with rock) to rebuild and stabilize the slope, reconstruction of the road shoulder and limited excavation and concrete base work where necessary. Doug Chapman, an engineer who assisted in developing the scope, said the gabion solution provides a stable, cost-effective repair that matches the site grade without widening the roadway unduly.

Town Manager Shane Fox told the council the project is classified by FEMA as a Category C (large project) repair but falls below FEMA’s $250,000 formal bidding threshold for this site. Fox said FEMA staff have reviewed the scope and site visits have occurred; he said the town expects the work to be fully reimbursable under FEMA rules. Fox also said McGill helped solicit bids and Mountain Crest was the only formal bid received due to high regional demand for grading contractors after the storm.

On timing, Fox said the contractor aims to mobilize “within the next week or two,” with an expected construction duration of about two to three weeks once work begins. Council members asked whether the contractor’s “emergency” label on the bid implied a temporary repair; Chapman and Fox said the repair is permanent in design, and the label likely reflected work performed immediately after the storm and FEMA classification practices.

The motion to award the contract passed by council vote. The town manager and staff said they would continue to follow FEMA procurement and documentation requirements to secure reimbursement.

Votes at the meeting recorded the contract award as approved by the council.