A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation has closed a short section of Silvers Welch Road to allow for the replacement of the bridge over Jordan Branch.  Work started Thursday, April 19 and the project is to be completed by late June.

Graham County Land Company will remove the existing bridge and replace it with an aluminum box culvert at a cost of $818,000.

Drivers in the area south of Old Fort will need to utilize a marked detour. Traffic will be directed to Lavender Road, then Bethlehem Road, then Bat Cave Road and back to Silvers Welch Road — or vice versa.

Transportation officials remind motorists to obey posted signs, follow instructions of flaggers and slow down in work zones.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

Open house set for April 24 in Tryon

TRYON – A partnership has resulted in a plan.

State transportation officials have collaborated with officials from Polk County and the towns of Tryon and Columbus, as well as the Isothermal Rural Planning Organization, to develop a project that would increase safety and reduce congestion on N.C. 108 in Polk County.

The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, April 24 from 4-7 p.m. at the Tryon Depot Plaza to present the preliminary roadway design and get public feedback.

Under the proposal, N.C. 108 will remain two lanes, but the department would increase the width of the travel lanes and add paved shoulders and turning lanes at some intersections along the project between U.S. 176 in Tryon and Hospital Drive in Columbus.

The Polk County Comprehensive Transportation Plan adopted in 2008 identified a need to improve N.C. 108. The project is funded in the 2018-2027 State Transportation Improvement Plan with right of way expected to start in 2020 and construction one year later.

The meeting at 22 Depot St. in Tryon is a drop-in gathering with no formal presentation. NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and listen to comments regarding the project. The opportunity to submit comments will also be provided at the meeting via phone, email or mail until May 8. All comments received will be considered as the project develops.

Information and materials can be viewed as they become available online at www.NCDOT.gov/Projects/PublicMeetings.

For additional information, contact Jonathan Woodard, NCDOT Division 14 Project Engineer at 253 Webster Road, Sylva, NC 28779; 828-586-2141; or jwoodard@ncdot.gov.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Caitlyn Ridge, Environmental Analysis Unit at ceridge1@ncdot.gov or (919) 707-6091 as easy as possible to make arrangements.

Persons who speak Spanish and do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

Campaign Runs April 14-28

RALEIGH – As you clear out closets in your house for spring cleaning, why not also put on an orange safety vest and gloves to participate in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway Spring Litter Sweep? This year’s campaign runs April 14-28.

Volunteers from local businesses, schools, non-profits and community groups work alongside NCDOT to help keep North Carolina’s roadways clean throughout the year. Adopt-A-Highway groups are encouraged to participate in the biannual litter sweeps which take place in the spring and fall, helping to increase cleanup and motivate the community to be good stewards of the environment.

Now in its 30th year, the Adopt-A-Highway Program helps decrease the amount of litter on the state’s roadsides and improves environmental beauty, quality and safety. Roadsides are available for adoption in all 100 North Carolina counties. Groups commit to cleaning their designated roadways at least four times a year and NCDOT provides them with safety vests, gloves and bags.

In 2017, nearly 5,000 Adopt-A-Highway groups removed close to 1 million pounds of litter from almost 10,000 miles of state roadways.

“We want to thank the thousands of volunteers who give up their time every year to help make sure our state is a beautiful and safe place to work, live and visit,” says David Harris, Roadside Environmental Engineer. “We couldn’t do this without all of them.”

Additionally, businesses, individuals and other organizations can also participate in the state’s Sponsor-A-Highway initiative. In return for cleaning a one-mile stretch of interstate highway, sponsors have their organization’s name or logo attached to the Sponsor-A-Highway sign.

Visit the Adopt-A-Highway or Sponsor-A-Highway websites for more information or to apply. Questions regarding the programs or applications can be directed to Kim Wheeless at 919-707-2974.