Top road priorities delayed by NCDOT

The two top priority road projects scheduled in Alleghany County have been delayed due to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) revising its Transportation Improvement Plan for 2006 through 2012.

NCDOT documents cite a lack of state funding for projects, which has caused many projects to be delayed all across Division 11, which includes Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes, Caldwell, Watauga, Surry and Avery counties. As for the two top priorities, selected earlier by town and county governments, they are the upgrade of U.S. 21 and completion of the Sparta Western Loop (U.S. 21 bypass).

Construction on the widening of U.S. 21 is now scheduled to begin by 2009, while the construction of the Sparta Western Loop no longer has a posted date for construction. According to the NCDOT documents, the construction on the loop road will begin in “post years” which means it definitely will not be constructed until after 2012 under current plans. Work on both projects earlier was scheduled to be completed in 2008.

According to information from the NCDOT, the Western Loop was delayed “To allow additional time for planning and to assist in balancing funds.”

County Manager Don Adams stressed that the projects are going to remain top priorities.

“If you look at our major requests, the priorities for the town and the county, these two roads are our top goals,” Adams said. U.S. 21 is the county’s top priority, while the Western Loop is its second priority — the town’s list is the same, in reverse order.

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