| 112th Year, 10th Issue | Thursday, October 19, 2000 | Sparta, North Carolina |
Completion of a new intersection between N.C. 93 and U.S. 221 is expected to be within the next month, according to Division 11 Maintenance Engineer Mike Pettyjohn of the N.C. Department of Transportation.
The intersection upgrade was a safety project to help increase sight distance and improve the flow of traffic at the intersection, which is sometimes utilized by tractor-trailer traffic bound for Bristol.
The original intersection had N.C. 93 running into U.S. 221 at an angle, while the new route will include a more direct 90-degree angle at the intersection.
In addition, the new intersection has been moved closer to the apex of the hill, thus offering greater sight distance for motorists entering the roadway.
The cost of the project was bid at $419,453.36.
The project, being done by J.R. Vannoy and Sons, is "a little behind schedule," Pettyjohn said.
The job was scheduled to be finished on Oct. 1.
The company is now facing a $350 per day penalty for not completing the project on time.
"This project has been talked about for about 10 years," Pettyjohn said. "How (N.C. 93) came into Highway 221 was not only a bad angle but offered very limited sight distance."
The improvements will help remedy both problems, he said.
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