Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Boone and DOT Officials Discuss Multiple Issues at Special Meeting

Story by David Brewer

Longtime town council member and Mayor Pro Tem Lynne Mason set the tone for last Friday’s special meeting between officials from the town of Boone and the NCDOT

“I think we all realize that the town and the DOT have a number of issues of mutual interest,” said Mason.

Highway 105
The meeting, called by the town of Boone, began with discussion of safety improvements to Highway 105. DOT Division 11 Engineer Mike Pettyjohn informed council members that the DOT recently submitted a proposal to Mayor Loretta Clawson and Watauga County Commissioners Chair Jim Deal, that they have been asked to consider. The proposal is based on DOT’s study of the entire corridor. Because Clawson and Deal have not yet evaluated the proposal, DOT officials were reluctant to discuss the recommendations contained in the document.

In recent years, local motorists have requested additional traffic signals along Highway 105, as well as a turn lane at Poplar Hill Drive. The speed limit on the stretch of road in question was recently lowered from 45 mph to 35 mph.

“We are constrained at some places just by the physical, natural constraints,” said Pettyjohn. “If our proposal is not supported by the town and the country, then we’re going to back up and take another look. It’s a balance between being safe and keeping the traffic moving.”

Pettyjohn also noted that the DOT plans to repave and restripe the portion of Highway 105 from Wilson Drive to the 105 Bypass this summer, as well as to patch and microsurface the battered stretch of road.

Additional Pedestrian Crosswalks
With much talk of making Boone more pedestrian friendly in recent months, members of the council pressed DOT officials for more crosswalks at a number of high-traffic areas in town.

Mason described Highway 321/Blowing Rock Road between Highway 105 and Boone Heights Drive as “very inadequate.”

“When you don’t have any crosswalks to direct people, they’ll just dart across the road,” said Mason.

While there is an approved project for installing markings and pedestrian signals at the 321/105 intersection, DOT officials cited a lack of concentrated crossing points and safety hazards as major stumbling blocks on the stretch of road in question.

“A marked crosswalk across a five-lane road would be very hazardous,” said Division Traffic Engineer Dean Ledbetter.

Other problem areas identified in the discussion were the Highway 105 Bypass/Highway 421 intersection and the New Market Blvd/Highway 421 intersection. Pettyjohn said the DOT would attempt to study signalized intersections and work with Boone Public Works Director Blake Brown to come up with some potential solutions to the problems.

421 Widening Project
Town and DOT officials discussed the nearly $35 million Highway 421 widening project at length, reviewing deadlines and hashing out details including a potential retaining wall, work schedules, sidewalks, bike lanes and utilities. The contract is scheduled to be awarded by April 21, 2009.

“To be honest, that is a tight date for us,” said Pettyjohn. “I’m not going to sit here and tell you we can make that, but that’s what we’re gunning for.”
Pettyjohn said that the DOT will stress to contractors that the lower portion of the project between Highway 194 and the Highway 105 Extension needs to be finished first to accommodate traffic to and from the new Watauga High School. The remainder of the project between the Highway 105 Extension and Hardin Street is slated for completion by 2012.

“We hope to have most of two construction seasons for that first part, and the contractor may be able to work throughout the project during this time, as well, but we plan to emphasize the first part by stipulating intermediate completion times in the contract,” said Pettyjohn.

According to Pettyjohn, a specially designed retaining wall will likely be used to save the hotels overlooking Highway 421 above New Market Center. The town will be allowed to choose the color and design of the concrete wall, but will also partially fund the project.

Council member Stephen Phillips and Mason raised concerns about softening the look of the widened road with possible landscaped medians. The median widths are already set, however, and Pettyjohn indicated there will not be much room for landscaping. He also expressed potential safety concerns for landscaping maintenance workers.

The Highway 421 widening project’s timetable has been of particular interest to many business owners and renters facing eviction. According to Division Construction Engineer Trent Beaver, owners and tenants will likely be able to remain in their current locations until 2009.

“Most of the businesses should be able to stay there through the end of this year,” said Beaver.

With heavy construction looming on one of the town’s busiest thoroughfares, Boone officials are concerned with the inevitable traffic snarls and asked DOT officials about possible detours.

“We know locals will reroute themselves somewhat, because they know some of the local roads, but as far as directing out-of-state, out-of-town people and trucks, there really is just no place to go,” said Pettyjohn.

East King Street
In spring 2007, the Town of Boone’s Development Services Department recommended to the Town Council that sidewalks and bike lanes be included with other planned improvements on Old East King Street, leading up to the new high school. Bike lanes were eliminated because of constructability issues adjacent to the cemetery and because of excessive right of way requirements in other locations. By dropping bike lanes and sidewalks from the plan, the estimated cost of the project was reduced from $351,000 to $175,000.

“How many kids have to die to fund a $300,000 right of way?” said council member Liz Aycock. “This has to change. This is just not acceptable.”

Mason proposed a meeting between town, county and DOT officials to further study the possibility of sidewalks and bike lanes on Old East King Street.
“It sounds like we may need to go back to the table to make sure that issue is resolved,” said Mason.