Smart Roads Alliance


The Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance was formed in 2002 in response to a proposal by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to build a new $132 million* highway through the middle of our most precious and beautiful rural county. Our goal since 2002 has been to work together as a community and create smart solutions to our traffic and transportation issues. (* $132 million construction cost source: NCDOT 2008)

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North Carolina Department of Transportation


NCDOT is planning to build the $132 million Southern Loop Bypass (NC 107 Connector) from US 23-74 in Balsam to NC 107 between Sylva and Cullowhee - NCDOT project STIP R-4745 is funded and construction will begin in 2016 unless the public demands other solutions.

The Resolutions

The Resolutions, unanimously signed in 2003 by the representative leaders from all four of Jackson County's incorporated towns (Sylva, Dillsboro, Webster, Forest Hills) requested that NCDOT "remove the Southern Loop Bypass from its long-range plan" and instead develop strategies for "improving existing roads as alternatives to the Bypass". A copy of the resolution and a petitions with thousands of Jackson County citizen's signatures were turned in to NCDOT at their annual State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) meetings to stop this proposed new highway. Despite public opposition, NCDOT is moving forward with this massive new highway project.

Other important articles with background information:
2009 - Smart Roads Alliance Position: Jackson County Comprehensive Transportation Plan
2008 - Construction on 23-74/107 connector could begin in 2015
2008 - Smart Roads Files Compaint Over Southern Loop
2008 - Smart Roads Event Discusses Alternatives to Southern Loop
2007 - Leaders, citizens demand input as road plan progresses
2007 - Southern Loop Opposition Mounts
2007 - Burrell, Setzer Plug Plan for Southern Loop (ignoring public outcry and towns' wishes)
2007 - Southern Loop On Priority List, Transportation Advisory Committee Disagrees
2007 - STIP Includes Funding For Portion of Southern Loop
2003 - "Who will decide the future growth of Jackson County?"
2003 - Sylva, Dillsboro Join Official Opposition to Southern Loop (The Resolutions)
2002 - Smart Roads Alliance Formed
2001 - NCDOT Division 14 Engineer Ron Watson updates EDC on 'southern loop' status
2001 - Southern Loop Feasibility Study Approved


The original proposed new highway project would have cost over $230* million to construct ($26 million per mile) and continued to US 23-441 through Webster. The Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance was instrumental in getting the Webster portion of the bypass removed from the R-4745 plan. (* NCDOT 2001 estimate)

LATEST NEWS

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Thursday, December 13, 2007

DOT's Conrad Burrell and Joel Setzer ignore public; moving forward with plan to build Southern Loop against public outcry and towns' wishes

Burrell, Setzer plug plan for Southern Loop
Smoky Mountain News
November 28, 2007
By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

Members of Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance are sifting through
paperwork at the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division
14 office in Webster to find out how the Southern Loop road project
suddenly appeared on the state priority list.

The group filed a public records request earlier this month to see all
the documentation involving the Southern Loop, a four-lane bypass that
would run through Jackson County from U.S. 441 to U.S. 23-74 near
Scotts Creek.

But members are going to have trouble finding the sheet of paper that
many consider the smoking gun.

"There is nothing in here about how the project got on the TIP
(Transportation Improvement Program) list," Joel Setzer, division 14
chief engineer, said about the project's documentation. "I know how it
got on the TIP — at the request of me and Conrad Burrell, Division 14
representative on the state Board of Transportation."

Both men requested that the project be included in the TIP so that
funding could be allocated to begin planning stages, said Setzer.

"Time was passing without any plan to address growth in Jackson
County," he said.

Since the road's proposal, Smart Road members have been questioning why
the project was even proposed.

The Southern Loop has received much opposition by Jackson County
residents and county commissioners have gone on the record saying a
comprehensive transportation plan should be done that outlines
alternatives to the road.

Even though the Smart Roads group now knows who requested the project
be included on the TIP, it still wants more questions answered.

"The question still to be answered is why should it be built," said DJ
Gerkin, an attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center in
Asheville that is aiding the Smart Roads group.

"Either DOT decided its own reason, or were they persuaded by someone,"
he said.

"There are road projects all over Western North Carolina that are not
being funded. If DOT puts this on their own agenda, that also tells us
something," said Gerkin.

1 comment:

  1. Just read the article in Wilm Star news about the landslide.

    Just wanted to pass this on: When I was stationed in Northern Japan 30 years ago, I observed that many mountainsides that rose above roadways were wrapped in, of all things, chain link fence. It seemed to be secured every 5 to 10 feet directly onto (into?) the mountain. Seems like this might work in your rock slide area.
    They also had convex mirrors at every mountain hairpin turn so you could see the oncoming traffic...

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking time to share your comments. We welcome any suggestions or ideas you may have.

"We are for the preservation of our communities.
We are not against growth and development,
nor a reasonable expansion of existing roads.
"

- Lydia Aydlett, Smart Roads Alliance

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."


- Margaret Mead