The imminent threat of massive destruction of our scenic mountains proposed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation as dictated by special interests would have ruinous consequences. This waste of taxpayer money would degrade our quality of life, poison our water, reduce fishing, destroy plant and animal habitats, and rob the area of income from tourism.
As presently planned, a new, four-lane highway will soon cut through the most scenic and pristine section of our remaining mountain refuge; it’s a ten-mile long, $378 million swath of destruction estimated to save insignificant travel time for interstate commerce. And this is the least expensive portion of an interstate road planned to run from Stecoah to Andrews, NC via Robbinsville.
The existing roadway between Robbinsville and Stecoah, NC (NC28 and NC143) can be improved, completing the regional corridor and taking commercial trucks out of the Nantahala Gorge. The DOT admits that our current roads will handle traffic adequately for at least 20 more years, and with supplemental shipping done by railroads, this model should be sufficient for many years more.
The proposed new highway is not only unnecessary, unwise, outmoded, and unaffordable, it squanders and depletes the limited funds available for urgently-needed infrastructure repairs of our bridges, roads, and railroads.
You can stop this destructive and unnecessary project! Here’s how:
Voice your concerns at the public hearing to be held Thursday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. at the Graham County Community Bldg., 196 Knight St, in Robbinsville. We need numbers. We need YOU to be there to show your opposition to DOT, the media, and elected officials. Your presence is crucial in changing the destructive direction of this project.
You can also attend an open house on Tuesday, Oct 27 in Cullawhee, Wednesday, Oct 28 in Stecoah, and Thursday, Oct 29 in Robbinsville. Click here for more details.
Click here for top 10 key questions the DOT needs to answer.
You have an opportunity to stop this spoilage and advocate for the two-lane substitute: a less destructive, less polluting, far-less-expensive alternative which has not even been considered by the DOT.
Print a petition, sign, and gather other signatures.
Come to a DOT meeting and let your concerns be HEARD.