Watson updates EDC on 'southern loop' status

By Rose Hooper

Speaking to the Economic Development Commission of Jackson County Monday, Watson said "a lot of rumors" are circulating about the proposed southern bypass of Sylva.

"I've heard people say that the map shows the road going right through their property," said Watson. "Those satellite lines on the map simply show a proposed area, not any specific property."

Meanwhile, opponents of the proposed southern loop say the misinformation is that a road is even needed from U.S. 23-441 south of Dillsboro to N.C. 107, then from N.C. 107 to U.S. 23-74.

If there were a southern loop, traffic would simply bypass downtown Sylva, Webster resident Malcolm MacNeill said. "Soon the town of Sylva would dry up."

Because the N.C. Department of Transportation is so far behind, the department has hired a private consulting firm to conduct a feasibility study of a southern loop, Watson said.

"That's the stage we are at now," he told EDC members.

At last year's Transportation Improvement Plan meeting Nov. 15 at Southwestern Community College, Tamera Crisp, the county's director of planning and economic development, presented a proposal from the EDC endorsing a southern loop around Sylva.

The proposal is a revival of a plan last looked at in 1993 when local officials asked the DOT to study long-range needs of highways in the area. For 11 months state engineers studied the county's projected population growth and expected student increases at both Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College, and what impact these factors might have on future traffic counts.

The result of that study was the Thoroughfare Plan for Sylva and Dillsboro, which indicated the need for a southern route. The plan was included in the 1994 Transportation Improvement Plan.

"The town of Sylva participated in those meetings back in 1993," said Sylva Mayor and EDC member Brenda Oliver. "We agreed something needed to be done to get congestion off N.C. 107. We said we needed to look at options and that's as formal as we've gotten."

MacNeill, who is opposed to a southern loop, has circulated a petition to that effect. He has collected almost 500 signatures.

"We only have congestion on N.C. 107 during certain peak times. If the DOT wants to cut down on congestion, there are other alternatives, such as additional stop lights or rerouting traffic," MacNeill said.

The DOT's southern loop feasibility study will include a review of all possible routes for the connector from south of Dillsboro to east of Sylva to alleviate congestion along N.C. 107, said Watson.

On the issue of possible routes, Conrad Burrell of Sylva, a state Board of Transportation member and county commissioner, said bringing the southern loop to Jack the Dipper ice cream shop on N.C. 107 from U.S. 23-441 and crossing the river there might serve the community best.

"I am not in favor of going through historic Webster," he said, although he has indicated his endorsement of the southern loop concept. "But no lines are drawn, and until the feasibility study is completed, probably by next April, no one knows what route [will be] proposed."

Regardless of the route, Burrell said relief is needed to alleviate congestion on N.C. 107.

"The last count I heard was that in a 24-hour period we had 33,000 vehicles on that road," he said.

Webster Town Board members this month directed Susan Leveille, chairman of the town's planning board, to include the impact a southern loop might have on Webster in a five-year plan. In informal discussions, most board members said they thought the loop, which some have said could cut across Kings Mountain just north of Buchanan Loop, would destroy Webster's historic neighborhood.

"A southern loop would destroy over 150 acres of beautiful forest land. Not only that, but I don't think the taxpayers or the state can afford it," MacNeill said.

While there has been controversy over the route, there's also been controversy over the width. Watson has referred to the loop as "an 8-mile, two-lane bypass."

However, Burrell said right of way would have to be secured for a four-lane highway to allow for any expansion. The DOT's current TIP calls for a feasibility study on two lanes with multi-lanes right of way.

If a decision is made to build the highway, Watson told the EDC, the next steps would include funding, public workshops and hearings, and design of the highway.

"We would have to study the protection of endangered species, water quality, historical landmarks and obtain permits from resource agencies. Then we would begin surveying, appraising and negotiating for right of way with property owners," Watson said.

In the TIP, the proposed southern loop is identified as project FS-0114C. For those wishing to make public comment, TIP hearings are scheduled for Oct. 23 at Tri-County Community College in Murphy and Oct. 24 at City Council Chambers in Brevard, both from 2 to 4 p.m.

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