​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.
Contact: David Uchiyama
duchiyama@ncdot.gov
(828) 251-6171