News

Ask Matt ... who looks after roadside trees

Sierra Nevada arborists care for the redbuds on Ferncliff Park Drive.

By Matt Matteson, Published: October 3, 2017

Q. What is happening to the trees next to the Asheville Airport? Are they are dying?

The trees in question were planted this year along Ferncliff Park Drive in the shoulder just below the Asheville Airport’s new runway retaining wall. So whose trees are they? NCDOT’s? Mills River’s? The airport’s? Actually, none of the above. The landscaping was done by Sierra Nevada to beautify the entrance to the brewery. Stan Cooper, director of logistics at Sierra Nevada, said the brewery got a planting plan OK’d which included the Forest Pansy Redbud trees. The brewery’s arborist says that most of the plantings are doing well but there are many trees that are discolored.
Sierra Nevada will maintain the landscaping along the road. There are some challenges with extensive sunlight, poor soils and ability to properly water the trees but the redbuds should survive. If any do die they will be replaced in the fall. If you are not familiar with the redbud, when the foliage emerges in the spring it is a vibrant red or purple.

Q. What is happening on the site of the old IAM facility at the intersection of 3rd Ave. West and Ehringhaus Street in Hendersonville?

The Interfaith Assistance Ministry sold the 3.3-acre tract to the Iglesia de Dios - Tiempo de Restauracion (Church of God - Time of Restoration). The 120-member church is led by Antonio and Mayra González. Church services, conducted in Spanish, are being held at their current location on Whitmire Street just off Haywood Road. Iglesia de Dios plans to move to the Ehringhaus Street location by mid-December. Renovations are being made to the interior of the building, particularly to the sanctuary.

Q. What’s the status of widening NC 191 in Mills River?

Well, it’s on the books. The current NCDOT transportation plan shows NC 191 (Haywood Road) marked for widening beginning at NC 280 in Mills River and ending at Mountain Road with construction beginning in 2023. This 4.4-mile section is actually just the first phase of a larger project to widen Haywood Road all the way into Hendersonville. The last 2.8-mile urban section is not in the funding cycle. With so many homes and businesses close to the road, it will surely be the most difficult. We may not see this happen until the next eclipse. The entire 7.2-mile project is estimated to cost $86 million. In just three years NCDOT is planning to begin right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation on the first phase.

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Send questions to askmattm@gmail.com.