The Park at Southpoint, a mixed-use development, is currently under construction in Durham, NC. Developer/owner David Johnson hired C.C. Mangum Contractors LLC, as the general contractor for the project, which will cost approximately $9 million.
Situated on 98 acres (39.2 h) in Durham, the site is just north of I-40 on the east side of State Route NC 751 and 16 mi. (25.6 km) west of Raleigh.
The site is being developed to accommodate an auto complex, retail shops and restaurants. Developers also are making room for apartments to be built by Centex. Additionally, the site is being developed for a hotel, which hinges on a buyer, and there may be an office building included in future development.
According to Mike Wehrle, general superintendent of C.C. Mangum, The Park at Southpoint will primarily consist of auto dealerships. Presently, two auto dealerships have already signed on, including David Johnson Lexus, and the developer hopes to sign at least a total of six dealerships.
“The focus on it will be auto dealerships,” said Wehrle. “They’re trying to make it an autopark with car dealerships and mixed-use development.”
C.C. Mangum started clearing the site in early October 2002. At the moment, 73 acres (29.2 ha) are under construction with grading and utility work being performed. The company also is working on the interstructure roadways, which are all of the roadways within the development. Since the job site is so large, the project includes a permanent pond and three retention ponds, including a bio-retention pond and a sand-filter retention pond.
Within the next couple weeks, the company will start widening State Route NC 751 as part of the contract. Construction will begin at the I-40 ramp and move north to the entrance of The Park at Southpoint.
Given that the job is considered a one-year project, Wehrle said, “We’re hoping that we will have all the roads and utilities, dirt moving and interstructure complete by the end of August — barring no delays.”
One factor that has presented a challenge thus far has been the substantial amount of rain in the area since construction began. Initially, 465,000 cu. yds. (353,400 cu m) of material had to be moved, which included approximately 250,000 cu. yds. (190,000 cu m) of shot rock. Mocksville, NC-based subcontractor Carolina Drilling performed the drilling and the blasting of the rock. The weather conditions, said Wehrle, made working with the shot rock very difficult.
“The shot rock was very dry, even with the wet conditions we were constantly adding water to our fill to get our compactions,” Wehrle explained. “That posed a challenge through the winter months when the temperatures were cold.”
Of the equipment used until now on the job site, C.C. Mangum owns approximately 90 percent of it with one or two pieces coming from rentals. Subcontractors, like Carolina Drilling and Raleigh-based utility subcontractor Gaines and Company, supply their own equipment.
C.C. Mangum has used several Volvo A40 and A25 off-road trucks. The excavators used for loading out include a Komatsu 300, a Komatsu 400 and a Caterpillar 330. A Caterpillar 815 compactor, as well as Caterpillar dozers, including B6s and a D7, also have been used at the job site.
There are approximately 25 people, including subcontractors, working at The Park at Southpoint development. Wehrle said that another eight will be added when the widening of NC 751 begins.
The area has seen a surge in development since the mall, The Streets at Southpoint, opened in March 2002 across the road, and because the area is conveniently located off I-40. Additionally, development and property values have increased substantially since the mall, which currently draws large numbers of people, was built.
C.C. Mangum helped with the construction efforts at The Streets of Southpoint by performing the entire site grading work for the mall. The $28-million project also included all underground utilities, paving and widening of Fayetteville Road and a new bridge in the mall complex. In addition, the project consisted of 1.5 million cu. yds. (1.14 million cu m) of earthmoving.
C.C. Mangum Contractors LLC, a heavy/highway contractor, and its parent company, The Mangum Group, are based in Raleigh, NC. The Mangum Group also has a division called Mangum Asphalt Services LLC.
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