Friday, July 1, 2022
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Jul 1's Weather Mostly Cloudy HI: 82.5 LOW: 65.1 Full Forecast (powered by Dark Sky) |
Free Daily Headlines
Henderson County’s transportation advisers got their first look recently at the consequences of construction inflation and a statewide shortage of cash to fix problems, improve safety and widen roads. The result: Many projects are moving further into the future, some so far out that they’re now “decommitted” in the next State Transportation Improvement Plan. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | Kanuga Road | NCDOT cash shortfall
Although an NCDOT cash shortfall caused widespread delays to dozens of projects statewide, several significant transportation improvements will be in the works over the next four years. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | I-26 widening project | NCDOT cash shortfall | highway construction
Eleven months after a big rainstorm caused a section of Kanuga Lake Road to collapse, a repair job is under way that should lead to the reopening of the road later this month. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Kanuga Conference Center | NCDOT cash shortfall | NCDOT road maintenance
A paving contractor will resurface 5.8 miles of the U.S. 25 connector from Exit 4 to the South Carolina line by October, the N.C. Department of Transportation announced. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | U.S. 25
Nearly all the major state highway projects scheduled for construction in Henderson County would be postponed — some for years — under a recommendation the cash-strapped NCDOT has sent to regional planning agencies. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | NCDOT cash shortfall
FLETCHER — A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will temporarily close a short section of Cane Creek Road south of Old Airport Road starting Monday, Aug. 17, to build a culvert. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | highway construction
State Rep. Chuck McGrady said Saturday he plans to resign from his House seat next month before taking a seat on the North Carolina Board of Transportation. Read Story »
Tags: Chuck McGrady | NCDOT | NCDOT cash shortfall
RALEIGH — The state Department of Transportation defended its overspending and planned reforms to a skeptical Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday, May 27. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | NCDOT cash shortfall
New highway projects are frozen, routine maintenance such as mowing, patching and ditch-clearing is delayed and NCDOT employees across the state are being sent home as the agency faces a serious cash shortage. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | I-26 widening project | Brian Burch
As people across North Carolina heed a statewide stay-home order to curb the spread of COVID-19, traffic volumes have plummeted, causing at least a $300 million budget shortfall for the N.C. Department of Transportation in the current fiscal year and an uncertain forecast for the next budget year. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | coronavirus government
Henderson County and NCDOT engineers will try to help residents of a private dirt road with big drainage problems get the road onto the state system. Read Story »
A trailer carrying a large track hoe flipped rounding a curve on Tuesday morning, blocking Little River Road in both directions for more than an hour. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | car crashes
Last summer, a charter bus trying to make a right turn from Greenville Highway onto Highland Lake Road landed in the ditch. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Highland Lake Road project | nimby nation
A contractor has missed a third deadline to reopen Greenville Highway but the NCDOT said the contractor is "cautiously optimistic" that the road could open by Dec. 13. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | roundabout | Greenville Highway
The top NCDOT engineer for Henderson County told the Hendersonville City Council that the state had fixed some road problems city residents have brought up, was in the process of addressing others and would have to wait on some because of the agency's cash shortage. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
Faded lane markings on Church and King streets downtown, poor pavement conditions on major routes throughout the city, a new stoplight on U.S. 64 West and better lane guidance through the U.S. 64 West zigzag via Buncombe Street are among the requests City Council members received in the recent series of Council Conversations with the public. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
RALEIGH — Some House members want to give the N.C. Department of Transportation an emergency bailout. Read Story »
Tags: Chuck McGrady | NCDOT | bond issues
Three Henderson County highway projects that had been postponed because of the NCDOT's cash shortfall have had their funding restored through the 2020 Build NC bond issue. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | roundabouts | Highland Lake Road project | NC 191 widening | White Street extension
A timeframe to start a construction project on Interstate 26 in Henderson County is becoming clear. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | I-26 | I-26 widening project
The latest ratings of highway systems are out — and for North Carolina, the news is mixed. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction
BRYSON CITY – A major highway in the mountains important for local traffic and tourism was set to reopen Monday night — one day earlier than expected, the NCDOT said. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | landslides | Nantahala Gorge | Nantahala National Forest
BRYSON CITY – N.C. Department of Transportation crews are working around the clock on U.S. 19/74 until the highway is open through the Nantahala Gorge. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | landslides
The 2019-20 North Carolina state transportation map is now available free of charge. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
BikeWalk NC is applauding a new state Department of Transportation that focuses on evaluating walking, driving and public transit options as it reviews projects. Members of the N.C. Board of Transportation on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution in support of implementing amendments to the department’s Complete Streets policy. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | bicycling
Fixing the congested and time-wasting intersection of U.S. 25 and North Main Street and five other widening or safety improvements projects in and around Hendersonville top the City Council’s nominations for inclusion in the state’s next transportation improvement plan. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction
The Henderson County Transportation Advisory Committee wants people to participate now in helping rank road projects that may be built years from now. The advisory board is starting a process now that lasts through next year to identify and prioritize road improvement work for the next update of the State Transportation Improvement Plan. Motorists can fill out a survey now to rank road projects. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | transportation
The detour for up to three months to build a new roundabout on Greenville Highway at Shepherd Street and Erkwood Drive started today. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | roundabouts
Opponents of the four-lane N.C. 191 widening project are hoping Henderson County commissioners take their side when the board hears from the top NCDOT engineer for the southwestern corner of the state. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | roads | Balfour Parkway | NC 191 widening
The busiest streets downtown also are confusing to some motorists, if crash statistics are an indicator. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | car crashes
Although tractor-trailers still might be dodging the scales on I-26 by taking Signal Hill and Berkeley roads through Hendersonville, the situation is “getting a little bit better” with monitoring by sheriff’s deputies, Commissioner Charles Messer said Wednesday at the Board of Commissioners meeting. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Berkeley Road
Transportation officials recently awarded a contract to repair the landslide on U.S. 74A in Gerton. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | landslides
The N.C. Department of Transportation on Thursday unveiled a draft 10-year transportation plan for 2020-2029 at the monthly Board of Transportation meeting in Raleigh. The 10-year plan includes no major new projects in Henderson County, the largest county in the 10-county Division 14. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | nimby nation
Tags: restaurants | NCDOT | road construction
Although the Hendersonville City Council expressed a desire on Thursday to minimize roundabouts' impact, three proposed traffic circles remain alive for Kanuga Road and the Main-Church-King streets intersection. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | south gateway | roundabouts | Kanuga Road
Tags: NCDOT | Steve Cannon | Brian Burch
MILLS RIVER — State transportation engineers are standing by their recommendation for a four-lane widening of N.C. 191 through Mills River even as homeowners continue to voice strong opposition to the plans. But in a concession to homeowners who want left turns out of their neighborhoods and farmers who oppose bulb-out U-turns a four-lane divided road would require, the top NCDOT engineer for the region said planners are open to a five-lane unobstructed design through the the town. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | nimby nation | NC 191 widening
Tags: NCDOT | Balfour Parkway
Motorists cowering in fear at the prospect of roundabouts guarding access to the new Publix might want to gird themselves for the newest proposal for the I-26 interchange at Four Seasons Boulevard. The design would require drivers to turn British for a few hundred yards. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | transportation | I-26 | Four Seasons Boulevard | I-26 widening project
Tags: NCDOT | transportation | nimby nation | U.S. 64 improvements
One moment in a lively public comment period last week crystallized the gulf between the group that vociferously opposes the Kanuga Road widening and the group that rallying for U.S. 64 improvements. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | roads | roundabouts | Kanuga Road | Highland Lake Road project | nimby nation | U.S. 64 improvements
Opposition keeps growing to the Kanuga Road project, a $20 million widening from Church Street to Little River Road that residents describe as a "disaster" and a "government overkill" that will destroy the ambience of the tree-lined winding road. The question remains whether local leaders can do anything to stop it. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Kanuga Road
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | transportation
State transportation funding reforms have accelerated the Balfour Parkway from U.S. 64 East to N.C. 191, widening of N.C. 191 from Hendersonville to Mills River, a White Street improvement and upgrade of Highland Lake Road from Greenville Highway to Spartanburg, Rep. Chuck McGrady announced Thursday. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | transportation | Transportation Advisory Committee
Rain delays have caused the NCDOT to extend the closure of Howard Gap Road another week, until Aug. 9., as a contractor continues the $7.8 million widening project. The road closure began July 21. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Howard Gap Road project
The N.C. Department of Transportation will temporarily close Howard Gap Road from Clear Creek Road to Massey Road starting Monday for the widening project. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Howard Gap Road project
The Lightning's intrepid researcher answers readers' questions. Read Story »
FLETCHER — The N.C. DOT will close part of Howard Gap Road north of Patty's Chapel Road and Sweet Water Oats Road in Fletcher while crews install new drainage and regrade a section of the Howard Gap. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
North Carolina License Plate Agency locations in Asheville and Canton are closing Friday when their contracts end. The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is reviewing applications for new operators in both locales. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
The NCDOT reopened I-40 Thursday evening after crews made repairs to prevent rockfalls. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
The N.C. Department of Transportation will temporarily close a portion of Interstate 40 in Haywood County near the Tennessee border on Thursday while crews eliminate potential rockfall hazards. NCDOT has been monitoring the area closely since Thursday after a rockfall was reported near mile marker 8 in Haywood County. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
MILLS RIVER — Bicycle riders and others interested in a bikeway along N.C. 280 in Mills River are invited to attend drop-in workshops this week. Read Story »
Tags: Mills River | NCDOT | bicycling
DANA — The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a contract for improvements to the bridge over Saconon Creek on Stepp Mill Road in Henderson County. The project includes grading, drainage, paving, installing a retaining wall and retrofitting the existing structure, which was built in 1958. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
MILLS RIVER — When the DOT asked the Mills River Town Board what it thought about a N.C. 280 widening project with a concrete median, the board answered emphatically: No. Read Story »
Tags: Mills River | NCDOT | road construction | roads
The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a contract for construction of a bridge that will create access to a new casino in Cherokee County. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Cherokee Eastern Band | casinos | gambling
The right lane of Interstate 40 westbound near Waynesville was closed until 3:30 p.m. Friday while crews cleaned up after a tractor trailer accident, the state DOT said. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
FLAT ROCK — The new bridge over Mud Creek is expected to open by Friday night, the DOT says, opening up the 4-mile length of heavily traveled Little River Road for the first time since March. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
The N.C. Department of Transportation will close Patty’s Chapel Road at the intersection of Howard Gap Road in Fletcher starting at 7 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, to grade and realign the intersection. The road is scheduled to reopen by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Howard Gap Road project
A congregation of contractors, factory managers and developers seldom comes to the conclusion that the state Department of Transportation is a friend to economic development. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development | Nathan Kennedy | Chip Gould | Andrew Tate
Q. When will they finish replacing the bridge on Little River Road? Read Story »
The N.C. Department of Transportation will close Howard Gap Road from Nix Road to Old Holbert Road between Hendersonville and Fletcher from 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, to install a pipe culvert. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Howard Gap Road project
The hornet's nest in a Greenville Highway traffic signal will be coming down. The state Department of Transportation last week sprayed the nest with wasp killer and will come back, probably next week, to take it down, a traffic engineer said. Read Story »
Q. I heard that we are getting another roundabout. Where is that one going? Read Story »
Tags: farming | Howard Gap | NCDOT | Ingles | transportation | Ask Matt | Howard Gap Road project
The N.C. Department of Transportation will close lanes in both directions of Interstate 26 at Exit 49 (Hendersonville/Bat Cave/U.S. 64) for bridge maintenance and repairs from Sunday, Aug. 25, until the morning of Friday, Sept. 6, weather permitting. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | transportation
Overnight closures will take place starting Tuesday on Interstate 26 West at Exit 31B in Asheville as crews perform rehabilitation work on the bridge over I-40. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | transportation
Contractors for the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin rehabilitation work on the bridge on Interstate 26 West at Exit 31B over I-40 at the I-26/I-40/I-240 junction in Asheville starting at 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation will close Howard Gap Road at Blooming Laurel Drive in Fletcher starting at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13, to install a pipe culvert. The road is scheduled to reopen by 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | Howard Gap Road project
DUPONT STATE FOREST — High-ranking North Carolina officials will be on hand for the dedication Monday of the new Hooker Falls pedestrian bridge and the new visitors center at DuPont State Recreational Forest. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | parks and recreation | DuPont State Forest | NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler
MILLS RIVER — State DOT engineers have responded quickly to a severe flooding situation that Mills River residents blamed on a nursing home construction site, a Mills River town councilman says. Read Story »
Tags: Mills River | NCDOT | Mills River Town Board | land-use planning
MILLS RIVER — Two roads will be closed for about two months starting Monday for work on bridges that cross the French Broad River. Read Story »
Tags: Mills River | NCDOT | road construction | transportation | Horse Shoe
The N.C. Department of Transportation will close Apple Valley Road northeast of Hendersonville at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, to replace the bridge over Clear Creek. The road will be closed until Sept. 15. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT | road construction | transportation | bridges
The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded $2.75 million in contracts for bridge repairs in Henderson, Polk and Haywood counties. Read Story »
Tags: NCDOT
Litter Sweep, the North Carolina Department of Transportation's (NCDOT) annual statewide roadside litter cleanup event, is an opportunity for local government agencies, community leaders, civic and community organizations, businesses, churches, schools, families and individual citizens to demonstrate support for a clean Henderson County and a cleaner North Carolina. Read Story »
State DOT engineers offered a compromise today to provide left-turn access into a retail strip center near the intersection of Spartanburg Highway and Upward Road, although the engineers warned that the concession will end up causing congestion at the busy intersection just to the east. Read Story »
Tags: Henderson County Commissioners | NCDOT
Developers want the state DOT to approve a connector between Seventh Avenue East and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard so they can put a grocery store and one or more restaurants on the property that now contains two closed businesses. Read Story »
Tags: Hendersonville City Council | NCDOT
DOT engineers offered a compromise design that could help retailers along Spartanburg Highway near Upward Road but Henderson County commissioners sounded less than placated. Read Story »
Tags: Henderson County Commissioners | NCDOT | road construction | Spartanburg Highway | Upward Road widening