Grandview work still on hold

After two years, the planned widening of the U.S. 21/Grandview Drive intersection is still on hold, as local and state officials have not yet gained an easement required to proceed.

However, the project will likely not remain at an impasse for long. Sparta Town Manager Tom Douglas was optimistic about gaining the permission soon, and the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) has the work scheduled for completion this summer.

More than two years ago, town and Alleghany County officials agreed the widening was needed because of damage at the intersection caused by trucks trying to turn. The intersection is the location of the county's southernmost traffic light; that section of Grandview connects U.S. 21 with the North Sparta Parkway, also known as the bypass.

At the Sparta Town Council's March 2001 meeting, Douglas reported the snag involved with obtaining the permission of the owners of the First Charter Bank location. The project was consequently put on the shelf. First Charter does not own the property, Douglas said; the owner is Prefco, a Connecticut-based land holding company, from which First Charter leases the land.

As he explained last week, efforts to contact Prefco to obtain the easement were fruitless. "I called, I sent a letter. I could never get through to anybody."

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