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By Lynn Hotaling
Building several short two-lane connectors could go a long way
toward alleviating traffic problems on N.C. 107, a Sylva official
said last week.
According to town zoning administrator Jim Aust, congestion on
the busy four-lane might be significantly reduced by joining existing
roadways to provide alternate ways to access destinations like
Wal-Mart, Fairview Elementary School and Smoky Mountain High.
Aust offered his plan Sept. 30 during a meeting of Sylva's planning
board as an easier alternative to the proposed Southern Loop,
N.C. Department of Transportation's plan to improve traffic flow
on N.C. 107.
Sylva's town board members, who were present for last Tuesday's
session, in September passed a resolution opposing a Southern
Loop.
A bypass may be needed in the future, Aust said, but it will only
help if it provides continuity with rural roads.
The proposed Southern Loop will not help if its only interchanges
are at U.S. 74, N.C. 107 and U.S. 441 because traffic will be
channeled onto 107, Aust said.
The main problem right now, according to Aust, is that most roads
around Sylva do not connect.
"There's only one way in and one way out," Aust said.
"Everything is channeled back onto 107 and Business 23."
Key to Aust's proposal is the construction of 6.5 miles of new
two-lane roads and improving 3.8 miles of existing roads compared
with 6.3 miles of new four-lane road for the proposed Southern
Loop's northern alternate and 8.7 miles of new four-lane road
for the southern alternate.
By building a 1-mile connector to join the relocated Hospital
Road to Cope Creek Road, travelers from the Moody Bottom area
could avoid the Business 23/107 intersection, Aust said. Another
connector could give Dillardtown residents access to the new road,
he said.
Constructing another mile or so of new road from Cope Creek to
Haskett Road could provide travelers with an alternate route to
Fairview and SMHS, Aust said. A connector between Cook Road and
Lacy Thornburg Road could provide another way in and out of East
Cope Creek community, he said.
Aust has a similar plan for the Wal-Mart side of 107.
He proposes a new road to connect Griffin Road to Buchanan Loop,
with the new road providing a back entrance to Wal-Mart. His proposal
would also connect Cherry Street to Walter Ashe Road to allow
Rhodes Cove travelers to enter the highway at a controlled intersection.
In summary, Aust's plan is a "system of connections to tie
things together and make loops," he said.
His proposal would also enhance property values by providing rural
access roads to undeveloped areas, Aust said, and it would provide
better access for law enforcement and emergency personnel.
A final benefit of the proposal, Aust said, is that it would allow
more efficient commercial development along the N.C. 107 corridor.
"Sylva's planning board would like to see a Main Street atmosphere
past Wal-Mart in Lovesfield, with buildings close to the road
and access and parking behind the stores."
No existing homes or businesses would be impacted by the proposed
connector roads, Aust said, adding that his proposal was formulated
based on county maps and aerial photos.
Aust also suggested improved signage on U.S. 74 to encourage travelers
to take the exit that delivers them closest to their destination.
He proposed an informational sign at Exit 83 that would direct
visitors bound for "Historic Sylva," "Main Street,
Sylva" and the Jackson County Justice Center to continue
to Exit 85.
"Good signs would redirect a lot of traffic," Aust said.
N.C. DOT District 14 board member Conrad Burrell of Sylva was
present for Aust's proposal and was asked to comment on it.
"The DOT is not looking to build roads," Burrell said
in regard to the controversial proposal for a Southern Loop. "We
don't need any more to build."
When Burrell joined the DOT board in February 2001, there was
concern for relieving traffic on N.C. 107, Burrell said, and it
was decided to do a feasibility study.
Burrell said Aust had some "good ideas," and that "some
of those things could be near-term solutions.
"I think traffic is a problem, and I hope that while I'm
on this board we can do something to solve this traffic problem,"
he said.
The DOT board member urged Sylva officials in attendance to support
additional study of problems on N.C. 107 and possible solutions.
"We never indicated we want to build a road - that was a
feasibility study," Burrell said. "Since then we've
just about eliminated the part (of the proposed Southern Loop)
from (U.S.) 441 to (N.C.) 107."
Burell cited paving South River Road and planned upgrades to N.C.
116 as reasons that portion of the proposed road could be abandoned.
Sylva officials passed a resolution in support of more study during
their Oct. 2 session. By supporting the resolution, Sylva town
board members asked DOT officials to initiate a transportation
plan for the Sylva-Dillsboro-Cullowhee area that will "predict
future traffic volumes on all the major transportation facilities
in the area and suggest changes or additions to the transportation
system, utilizing the help of the local Rural Planning Organization
and a committee appointed by local governments, schools, citizen
groups and the local NCDOT office."
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