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Blasting Operations Take Place Saturday in Blowing Rock

Press Release from N.C. Department of Transportation

July 19, 2012. Blasting operations will take place this Saturday on U.S. 321 in Blowing Rock, weather permitting. The blasting will take place along the east side of U.S. 321, across from the Holiday Inn Express.

The blasts will be small, so road closures and detours will not be necessary. Flagmen will temporarily stop vehicles a safe distance from the blast area. Lane closures may be used if needed, and there will be minimal delays.

For more information about blasting, please go to the project website and click on the blasting PDF, or call the project hotline at (828) 964-3260 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for information on the Town of Blowing Rock’s noise ordinance, search for “noise ordinance” at www.townofblowingrock.com.

New sewer and water line installation is continuing between Broyhill Home Furnishings and Shoppes on the Parkway. Electrical, phone and cable lines relocation operations also are continuing between the Green Park Inn and Shoppes on the Parkway.

The new alignment of U.S. 321, as well as permanent access to properties in the work zone, is taking shape in the area between Broyhill Home Furnishings and Sunset Drive. Weather permitting, rough grading can be completed in the fall, with asphalt placed down in the spring.

The N.C. Department of Transportation reminds all motorists to drive slowly using caution in work zones. When lane closures are in effect, remember to watch for flaggers standing near the roadway and be prepared to stop.

For more information or updates on the U.S. 321 road widening project, visit the project website. Follow project progress on the website or via Twitter (see @NCDOT_EastMTN and #US321), or call the project hotline to speak to an NCDOT representative during regular weekday business hours (8 a.m. until 5 p.m.).

In addition, motorists can get real-time travel information for the area at any time by calling 511, visiting www.ncdot.gov/travel or using NCDOT Mobile, a phone-friendly version of the NCDOT website. To access it, type “m.ncdot.gov” into the browser of your smartphone. Then, bookmark it to save for future reference. NCDOT Mobile is compatible with the iPhone, Android and some newer Blackberry phones.