U.S. 21 work ahead of schedule

Thanks to cooperative weather during the last half of 2001, the widening of U.S. 21 north of Sparta is likely to be finished four months earlier than originally expected.

"Everything's ahead of schedule," said David Poindexter, resident engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation. "We're probably looking at late August this year (for completing the project). The good weather gave us some days where we could do some work. It's going along real well....The contractor (James R. Vannoy & Sons of Jefferson) is doing good."

The completion date was initially set at Dec. 30. The project began in November 2000.

"The actual roadway embankment construction is finished," Poindexter said. "We're working on the whole thing at one time. The only thing I know that's not finished is the new Hendrix Road." He said work there will lower the grade of that road, but the steepness will be about the same.

Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News! Back