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NCDOT and Avery Commissioners Hold Annual Secondary Road Meeting

Story by Ron Fitzwater

Michael Poe, district engineer for the NCDOT, discusses the 2007-08 funding allocation for secondary road construction program. Photo by Ron Fitzwater The Avery County Board of County Commissioners met in public hearing Monday with representatives of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, to discuss the 2007-08 fiscal year allocations of funds for the secondary road construction program.

The program is for paving unpaved roads, improving road surfaces replacing bridges, improving paved and unpaved secondary roads, widening roads, providing industrial access projects and repairing severe maintenance problems.

Michael Poe, district engineer for the NCDOT, told the commissioners that the DOT has a rating system to determine where construction money goes.

This year the anticipated allocated funds total $1,322,579 and will be divided among several projects: $980,000 to pave the unpaved Dark Ridge Road 1.2 miles to the Tennessee State line, $670,000 to pave Whittaker Branch Road .88 miles, and $2,100,000 to pave Old Beech Mountain Road 2.7 miles.

Poe informed the commissioners, “In the event that any roads in priority have to be placed on a hold list due to unavailability of right of way or environmental review, or additional funding becomes available, funds will be applied to the roads listed in priority order in the paving alternate list first.”

Some general secondary road improvements have also been allocated funding: $120,000 for replacing bridge number 16 on State Route 1116 and $50,837 for maintenance on various roads as needed to include safety projects.

A total of $101,742 has been allocated for unpaved road spot improvements for more than 18 roads, and finally, $70,000 has been allocated for surveying, right of way acquisition, road additions, contingencies, overdrafts and paving entrances to certified fire departments and rescue squads.

Poe told the commissioners that although the $1,322,579 is projected to be the county’s allocation, “The program is subject to availability of that funding, right of way and environmental review. Proposed funding allocations are only projections and NCDOT can change priority status based on funding.” Additionally, he said, “When secondary roads cannot be paved due to the inability to obtain right of way NCDOT, will continue down the priority list to find additional projects.”