News

Local NCDOT engineer takes promotion to Asheville post

By Bill Moss, Published: June 24, 2018

Steve Cannon, the NCDOT engineer who works closely with local government officials on transportation problems and projects, has left the agency’s Mills River office for a new post in Asheville.
Moving from Division 14, Cannon becomes project development engineer for Asheville-based Division 13. As the district engineer for Henderson, Transylvania and Polk counties, Cannon was the go-to contact for requests and transportation issues, from new traffic lights to driveway permits.
“It was a promotion for Steve,” said Brian Burch, the top engineer for Division 14. “It’s a good career move on his part. We’re going to miss him but we’ve got his position posted and we’re doing interviews.” Burch hopes to fill the position by next month.
City and county officials have praised Cannon for his responsiveness to their concerns and willingness to move quickly on urgent projects. In 2013, the Partnership for Economic Development honored Cannon and fellow DOT engineer Ed Green for their work on roads needed for the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
District engineers are “on the front lines” dealing with everyday issues, Burch said.
“They’re the ones that work with and understand what the local governments’ needs are and what the public’s needs and desires are,” he said.