Workers with DeBord Paving of Ennice prepare to resurface the roadside on U.S. 21 near Country Junction.

Town water extension along U.S. 21 to Country Junction nearly complete

Motorists should be enjoying a smoother drive along U.S. 21 south of Sparta by now than during the past couple of weeks.

Crews have been working to extend town water lines along the highway. While the extension began at the request of one business, it will provide potential water access for other property owners, as well as better fire protection for area residents.

Town Manager Tom Douglas said he expected work in the highway to be finished by Tuesday. Although some activity remains to be done — including boring a hole for a service line at Macedonia Church Road — lane closures and resulting traffic inconvenience should be over by then, he said.

Last October, Douglas presented a request to the Sparta Town Council from Paul Wagoner, former owner of Country Junction store — now 4 Brothers Country Junction. Faced with a requirement to install a detector to protect his well from petroleum-tank leakage, Wagoner asked the town to extend water to the store and offered to pay $10,000 of the materials cost.

At that time, council approved the extension and authorized Douglas to negotiate extension further southward to potential customers such as BCB Trucking Company, Truline Truss and Joines Trailer Park.

He said the work began March 18 and experienced some delays due to bad weather.

Last week, Mayor John H. Miller said, "The work is coming along nicely." Douglas said the extended line would cross under U.S. 21 just before the intersection with Chestnut Grove Church Road and Macedonia Church Road. From there, it will go down Macedonia Church Road, approaching Country Junction from the opposite side of that road. Service will thereby be extended to the four office buildings on Macedonia Church Road as well as Country Junction.

"At the end of the water line, we'll put in a valve, so if we ever want to go anywhere, we can start digging again," he said.

Douglas said Wagoner's $10,000 contribution would cover about 70 percent of the cost of materials.

The extended lines mean water service is more readily available to other property owners in the area. Douglas said some, including WCOK radio station and Town Attorney William Graham, have expressed an interest in obtaining water service. Those owners would be responsible for the cost of connecting their respective buildings to the new town water lines. "It would be a lot cheaper than drilling a well," said Douglas.

Further southward, Joines Trailer Park has also expressed an interest in town water service, he said. The town has not heard from BCB and Truline Truss, which had previously talked with Alleghany County about extending water service.

Douglas added that the improved fire protection is an even more important benefit of the extension. With the new lines come new fire hydrants, and residents will get better rates on their homeowners insurance.

As for the lane closures and traffic delays, he said, "Hopefully it's not been too bad. It's no worse of an aggravation than what's been going on at Twin Oaks (road construction north of town).

"DeBord Paving Co. is cleaning up after we progress. He works a little later than our crews. It's a nice, new road. We want to keep it as nice as we can. We have to post bond with DOT (the N.C. Department of Transportation). We like them to give our money back," Douglas explained.

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