MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Vulcan Materials Company has announced plans to invest $12.5 million in upgrading its quarry operations in Maryville. Originally built in the 1940s, the quarry is set to receive a series of updates aimed at improving its environmental impact and enhancing its relationship with the surrounding community.
The primary focus of the updates is to address concerns related to visual and sound impact for residents in nearby areas, including Shannondale, Trotwood Farms, and Montvale Road. The proposed changes include the construction of a landscaped berm, which will serve as both a visual and sound buffer. This berm will help shield local neighborhoods from quarry activities while also centralizing mining operations away from sensitive areas like Jarvis Park, the sports fields, and homes along Windsor Park. In addition, a 300-foot southern buffer is planned to further screen the Trotwood Farms community.
In addition to these measures, Vulcan Materials plans to reconfigure and restrict the storage of overburden, a type of material removed during mining, to a designated height. The company is also set to enhance its safety protocols by improving the blasting and sound monitoring network. New safety features will include low-sound backup alarms on mobile equipment, which will be used in certain areas to reduce noise disturbances.
Brian Williamson, vice president of Vulcan Materials, expressed the company’s commitment to responsible operations, stating, “We believe in doing the right thing, the right way, at the right time. For nearly 20 years, our site plan has responsibly served both our neighbors and the community. The Optimization and Benefits Plan allows us to build on the safety, environmental, and community commitments we uphold every day.”
The company has invited members of the public to provide feedback on the proposed updates at an open house event scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Alumni Gym at Maryville College. For those unable to attend in person, Vulcan Materials has provided an email and phone number for questions and comments: Maryville@VmcMail.com or 629-910-7627.
These upgrades mark the latest step in Vulcan Materials’ ongoing efforts to balance its industrial activities with the needs and concerns of the Maryville community.
