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The Closed Section of N.C. 194 Opens Just In Time for Woolly Worm Festival and the Valle Country Fair

Construction work on N.C. 194. Photo by Ken Ketchie

By Jesse Wood

Oct. 18, 2012. A 1.5-mile section of N.C. 194 in between Matney and Valle Crucis opened several days ago just in time for the busiest time of year along that stretch of road – the Woolly Worm Festival and Valle Country Fair take place this weekend. 

That section of road has been closed since June, and motorists were using Pigeon Roost Road as a detour. 

“We were cognizant of the Woolly Worm Festival,”  Doug Eller, an assistant resident engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation, said, adding that a clause in the NCDOT contract limited the number of days the road could be closed and the NCDOT asked Maymead, Inc., the contractor, to make sure the opening would coincide with the festival.

Although, the road is now open, expect delays in the couple weeks, Maymead is applying the final touches, so to speak – preparing the shoulders, adding guard rail and the preliminary striping and 14 days after the preliminary stirping is drawn, the permanent striping will be added. 

Clarks Creek Road will be one way heading towards Valle Crucis, while those leaving the festival must take Broadstone Road to make it back to Foscoe.