|
Commissioners OK DOT’s paving plans
By Derek Hodges
County officials voted Monday (Feb. 6) to approve the N.C. Department of Transportation’s secondary roads program for the coming year.
The plan mostly addresses paving unpaved roads throughout the county. It also includes safety surveys and equipment.
Commissioner Conrad Burrell, who represents Jackson County’s district on the state Transportation Board, said the plan represents a $4 million allocation to the county. That amount is derived from a statewide formula that is based on a county’s amount of unpaved road mileage, said Joel Setzer, NCDOT division engineer.
According to NCDOT District Engineer Jonathan Woodard, the county is home to approximately 150 miles of unpaved road. The 2006 plan includes only about 22 miles of road to be paved. While DOT has offered to pave all unpaved roads in the county, some property owners will not allow the work to be completed on rights of way on their property, Woodard said.
Roads to be included in the paving work include (with length to be paved in parenthesis): Finley Forest (0.69), Jones Street (0.12), Hall Town (0.22), Shook Cove (0.64), Hensley Circle (0.04), Conner (0.27), Bullpen (1.49), Rocky Branch (1), Little Savannah (1.05), Marion Forest (0.3), Wolf Mountain (2.5), Broom (1), Pioneer Lodge (1), Floyd Jones (0.5), Lower North Fork (2.5), Rogers (0.7), Pilot Mountain (1.85), Cagle Cove (0.28), Middleton (1.35), Judaculla Rock (0.46) and Sutton (0.2).
Paved roads to be improved include (with mileage): Barkers Creek (1), Norton (0.63) and Old Settlement (2.52).
The work will also include installing safety signage as needed throughout the county, spot stabilization to maintain unpaved roads and guard rail work.
Commissioner Roberta Crawford commended Burrell for the amount of safety improvements the plan includes.
|
