With 15 days until the announced grand opening of the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., construction on the $32 million project has been halted because of a gate. Seems that the city, which had previously given permission to the developer for access to the construction site via Hawfield Road, made a serious error in judgment considering the road is privately owned. Residents, who grew tired of all the dust and noise from the construction trucks over the last year, finally took matters into their own hands and placed a metal gate across the road, cutting off access. Although public access has been obtained to the site via another direction, that road has yet to be constructed and won't be in time for the June 15 festivities. No word on how long this setback will delay the opening. To read the complete story in the Charlotte Observer, click here.