NCDOT To Hold Info Session for Division 11 on Draft 10-Year STIP in Hickory on April 13

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold information sessions in divisions across the state to hear the public’s feedback on the Draft 10-Year State Transportation Improvement Program.

The session for Division 11, which is comprised of Alleghany, Avery, Ashe, Caldwell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties, will be held in Hickory on Monday, April 13. The meeting takes place in the Western Piedmont Council of Government Offices, located at 1880 2nd Avenue NW, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Public feedback on the plan is one of the final steps toward implementing the new STI law.

During the past year and a half, NCDOT has been working with the legislature, local planning organizations, and other stakeholders across the state to implement the law and develop the 2016-2025 State Transportation Improvement Program.

We have now produced the 2016-2025 Draft STIP, the first under this new process, and it’s one of our most comprehensive programs ever. The document includes 1,073 projects across all transportation modes and all 100 counties.

See some local projects below:

In the spring 2014, the Watauga County Board of Commissioners submitted its top four priorities to the High Country Council of Governments for consideration: widening of U.S. 421/321 near Vilas to the N.C. 105 Bypass; new bridge and left turn lane at Broadstone Road and N.C. 105 intersection; widening and road improvements at Bamboo Road and Wilson Ridge Road; and widening of N.C. 194 from King Street to Howard’s Creek Road. In 2014, High Country Council of Governments reached out to elected officials in all of the municipalities and counties in its region for input.

All four of those projects favored by the commissioners were added to the 10-year STIP draft.

Here are some of the projects added to the plan:

• Widening of 5.5 miles on N.C. 105 from Clarks Creek Road to N.C. 105 Bypass in Boone
• Widening of 3.5 miles on U.S. 321/421 near Vilas to N.C. 105 Bypass
• Improvements at King-College streets intersection in downtown Boone
• Widening of 1.6 miles on N.C. 194 from King Street to Howards Creek Road
• Widening of to 12-foot lanes with four-foot paved shoulders on 1.9 miles from U.S. 421 to Deerfield Road (2020 construction year)
• Widening of 4.2 miles from U.S. 221 North of South Fork of New River to south of N.C. 194 (2017 construction year)
• Widening of 1.3 miles of U.S. 321 from Blackberry Road to U.S. 221 at Blowing Rock (under construction)
• .25-mile access road from U.S. 321 to ARHS post-acute care facility (under construction)

Now, we need your feedback. We want to know what you think about:

• The process to develop the STIP and ideas for improvement
• The variety and geographic diversity of the projects

The interactive map below will help you find the division in which your county resides. Then, see the table at the bottom of the page to get details on the meeting in your area.

MEETING INFO

The information sessions provide you an opportunity to learn more about the process used to develop the Draft STIP, view an interactive map of projects, view a brief video, review project information with NCDOT staff, and provide us feedback on the process through a brief survey.

The sessions will be held from 4 – 7 p.m., in an open-house format. There will not be a formal presentation, and you can attend at any time during those hours. Plan to attend to learn more or share your comments. The final meeting will also be webcast. The link to participate will be provided closer to the meeting date.

If you are unable to come to a meeting, you can submit your comments electronically via our MindMixer page. The page includes the same informational materials that will be available at the meetings. You will need to create a username and password, and sign in to access the materials and survey.