Hearing held on road improvement plan

The North Carolina Department of Transportation and Alleghany County Commission held a joint public hearing on Monday night to discuss a proposed road improvement plan.

Jim Sloop, DOT county maintenance engineer for Alleghany and Yadkin Counties read the plan for the secondary roads construction to the commissioners.

"My numbers don't match yours, Mr. Sloop," County Commissioner Sandy (Carter) Herndon said.

In the original proposed budget, the grand total was stated as $1,946,419. Upon adding the estimated cost for each project, it was discovered the funds reserved for surveying, right-of-way acquisition, road additions, etc. was understated by $777. This was corrected in a revised budget given out at the meeting.

Following the correction, DOT officials discussed the road list. "We are currently in the final year of a four-year plan. The secondary roads construction inventory, taken every four years, is based on priority," explained Michael A. Pettyjohn a division engineer with the department.

County Manager Don Adams queried as to how the department reached the conclusion of which roads were of top priority.

"Each road is given points based on various criteria. We count homes, churches, businesses, schools and industries. The road with the most points becomes the highest priority," said Pettyjohn.

The point value is as follows: a full-time home receives six points, a part-time home receives three. Churches, businesses and industries receive 10 points.

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