Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Forest Service says Grindstone campground bid process complete; construction expected after contract award
Summary
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area ranger told the Smith County board that bids were received for Grindstone campground reconstruction, funding is in hand for a new wastewater system, and contractors will begin work after award; the ranger described route, trail and campground repairs funded through disaster relief and partner grants.
Ed Wright, area ranger for the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, told the Smith County Board of Supervisors on April 9 that the agency has completed design for Grindstone campground wastewater replacement, has a full funding package in hand and received 15 bidders at a recent April 24 bid opening. Wright said the selected contractor will generally have a one‑year timeline but that the Forest Service hopes to complete parts of the project sooner and reopen parts of the campground as loops are finished.
Wright described the project as replacement of an aging lagoon system with a modern wastewater treatment plant designed for multi‑decade service; the work includes upgrades to water and electrical hookups, graveling campsites, new picnic tables and other “beautification” so the campground looks and functions like visitors expect. He said roughly $5 million had been assembled from the Great American Outdoors Act and supplemental disaster recovery funding to cover the project and that problems in earlier phases grew from a multi‑year design and funding process.
The ranger also described disaster‑funded road repairs (Forest Road 84, Glade Mountain Road and other systems) completed after a severe storm and noted upcoming agreements with the Department of Wildlife Resources and Department of Conservation and Recreation to improve the cold‑water fish hatchery and other assets that will benefit Smith County.
Supervisors asked for clarification about the project schedule and expressed impatience about lost campground revenue during the multi‑year closure; Wright acknowledged administrative delays early in the effort but said the agency now had the design, funds and contractors lined up and would provide updates on the award and timeline to the county.
What’s next: Wright offered to return after the bid opening to report on the awarded contractor and schedule; supervisors welcomed continued updates and clarified that improvements to access, wells and utilities would be key to reopening and restoring visitor revenue for the county.
