Answer Man: Mystery mound at Lake Julian? Acton Way traffic light too short?

Today’s batch of burning questions, my smart-aleck answers and the real deal:

Question: I row with the Asheville Rowing Club at Lake Julian. We have been watching a little mound get higher and higher for a couple years now, just to the left of the dam. We figured it was possibly a coal ash containment area, but don't know for sure. Now, there is grading and a tarp being laid down all around this mound. We are wondering if solar panels are going to be put on it. Do you have any idea what is going on there?

My answer: This is going to be the most awkward campsite ever, but I bet the spaces will sell.

Real answer: Bill Norton, a Duke Energy spokesperson, had the information on the mystery mound.

"That is the double-lined, on-site ash landfill at the northern end of our Asheville station property," Norton said via email. "With all coal ash fully excavated from the basins as of June, under the plan approved by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, the landfill is now being enclosed in a manner that continues to keep the public and environment safe."

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The "tarp" material the reader mentioned is actually a liner that's thicker and designed to last way longer than a tarp.

"The landfill was fully lined along the bottom before the ash was put in place, and we are currently installing an impermeable liner across the entire top of the landfill," Norton said. "Once the ash is enclosed and the liner system is sealed, synthetic turf will be installed on top of the liner to provide the appearance of native grass and protect the liner from ultraviolet (light) degradation. We expect to complete the turf installation before year-end."

As we've previously noted, Duke Energy's Lake Julian plant transitioned in 2020 from a coal-burning system to a new gas-fired "combined cycle station." The new system, which burns natural gas, is 75% more efficient than the coal plant it replaced.

It also eliminated the need for coal shipments, burning of coal − and storage of the ash in ponds on site.

Once Duke got the new plant up and running, it no longer needed the old coal burners and associated equipment.

"With demolition of the retired coal plant complete, we’re repurposing as much of this land as possible for North Carolina’s clean energy transition," Norton said.

Norton noted the new plant "was built in the footprint of an excavated ash basin, and we continue to work through the design for on-site solar as well.

"This investment, coupled with commitments for other local solar generation, battery storage and grid modernization, are helping the Asheville region lead the way in energy innovation," Norton said.

Question: Why is the stop light on Acton Way and Smokey Park highway so incredibly short in its cycle? It seems the cycle is most often no more than 12-15 seconds from green to yellow. On average, only about five cars can get through on each cycle. The last two times I have come upon that light, it has taken me three full cycles to get onto Interstate 40 heading into Asheville. Some of the traffic is from heavier use of Monte Vista. Some of it comes from traffic that is using the Buncombe County Sports Park. And some of it comes from individuals who are wanting to stop at McDonald's or Zaxby's. It seems to me if the time were doubled, a lot of the congestion would go away and it wouldn't to any significant degree hurt the traffic flow on Smokey Park Highway and those individuals coming off the interstate. And it certainly would decrease the number of individuals who are running yellow lights and occasionally red lights because of their impatience.

My answer: Don't hold your breath waiting for changes here. Seriously, you'll pass out and block traffic, and it'll just make the impatient motorists even testier.

Real answer: "We reviewed the operation of this traffic signal at this intersection and determined that it is functioning properly in accordance with the signal plans," Anna Henderson, traffic engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation's Asheville office, said via email.

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While the reader's suggestion seems to make sense, it could cause more problems.

"Additional time cannot be added to the Acton Circle leg of the intersection because that would take time away from the through movement on Smokey Park Highway — which carries 32,000 vehicles per day — or the I-40 exit ramp," Henderson said.

An alternative is possible, though.

"Instead, we recommend that Acton Circle motorists use the westernmost signalized intersection to access Smokey Park Highway more quickly because this traffic signal provides significantly more time for Acton Circle motorists than the signal to the east," Henderson said.

This is the opinion of John Boyle. To submit a question, contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Man: Mystery mound at Lake Julian? Acton Way signal too short?