T-N: 191 Alliance keeps up pressure; DOT to attend commissioners’ meeting

From the Times-News: ". . . Opponents, including members of the group 191 Alliance, reiterated Monday that the project is unneeded since the Balfour Parkway, which would have brought more traffic to the roadway, was canceled. They also argue that the safety improvements near Rugby Middle and West Henderson High will be sufficient to solve...

T-N: Henderson County approves greenway plan for next 30 years

Henderson County has officially adopted its draft 2020 Greenway Master Plan and will move forward with related feasibility studies. . . The master plan maps out county greenway plans for the next three decades, hoping to establish a countywide greenway network. It was crafted by the 16-member Henderson County Greenway master Plan Advisory Committee, according...

Hendersonville Lightning: Commissioners unanimously endorse greenway plan

"Among the major selling points the commissioners bought was that any land acquisition would be on a voluntary basis, not through eminent domain. . ." Continue reading

NCDOT 25% plan

NCDOT has completed what they term a 25% plan for the N. Highland Lake Road project (U-5887). They anticipate having a 75% plan available this May, and a 90% plan available in May 2020.

T-N editorial: The NCDOT’s big pay grab

From today's Times-News editorial page: . . . Many folks would consider 5 percent above cost of living a good raise. So a lot of taxpayers, not to mention employees of other state agencies, will find it hard to swallow that the N.C. Department of Transportation handed out raises as high as 65 percent to...

T-N: NCDOT ‘misunderstands’ budget, gives raises up to 65 percent

From the Times-News: Lawmakers in North Carolina say the state Department of Transportation misinterpreted a state budget provision and gave about 5,300 workers pay raises as high as 65 percent. The News & Observer reported Wednesday that the 2018 provision gave NCDOT funds to boost salaries that were no longer competitive, but lawmakers say the...

T-N: Henderson County residents continue fight against NC 191 widening

From the Times-News: ". . . Many speakers urged NCDOT to re-evaluate the project’s need, saying the traffic and crash statistics don’t warrant such a widening as NCDOT contends. They also argued that without the Balfour Parkway project and with the addition of safety improvements around Rugby Middle and West Henderson High already in the...

Greenville Highway (NC 225) is closed at Erkwood Drive/Shepherd Street until Sunday, March 17, at 7:00 a.m. for roundabout construction work.

Bob Demartini (1919-2019)

From today's Times-News: ". . . In the period 1992-95 [Bob] Demartini, as Chairman, led the successful campaign to incorporate the Village of Flat Rock, forestalling its annexation by Hendersonville providing it local control over matters that previously had been the County's prerogatives. . ." Continue reading

Spring has sprung.

Roundabout project

We have added information on the Erkwood Dr/Shepherd St/Greenville Hwy roundabout project (NCDOT U-5105) online. While this project is not inside the Village of Flat Rock limits, its proximity to the village and its effect on Greenville Highway traffic have significant ramifications for our community.

T-N: NCDOT taking comments about 16 WNC projects

Residents have a chance to learn more about the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Draft 10-Year transportation plan for 2020-29 at open houses in Asheville and Sylva through March 1. The department unveiled its proposed funding and construction plan in January with more than 1,600 transportation projects across the state. The list for Division 13...

T-N editorial: I-26 work: Bring on the pain

When work finally begins this fall to widen Interstate 26, residents and visitors can expect four or five years of construction that’s sure to cause traffic jams and delays. Yet this long overdue project will, when it is done, improve traffic flow and safety. The N.C. Department of Transportation will widen I-26 from four to...

T-N: I-26 widening will be ‘largest highway project in Henderson County history’

From the Times-News: "The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to construct an eight-lane highway from Interstate 40 in Buncombe County to U.S. 25 at Mountain Home, and then a six-lane highway from Mountain Home to Four Seasons Boulevard. A later project will widen the interstate from there to U.S. 25 South. . . Under the...

Times-News story correction

Correction to today's Times-News article as confirmed by NCDOT via email to CLG: The N. Highland Lake Road project dates have NOT changed--the current schedule calls for right-of-way acquisition to begin June 2019 with construction to begin December 2020. Incorrect dates were reported at the Henderson County TAC meeting, which the Times-News article is based...

NCDOT I-26 on Twitter

NCDOT has a Twitter account dedicated to I-26--it's @NCDOT_I26 and posts incidents and traffic problems in real time. Handy resource.

Just confirmed by NCDOT via email to CLG, the new covered signs on Greenville Highway and N. Highland Lake Road are detour signs for the upcoming Erkwood/Shepherd St. roundabout construction.

Roundabout prep begins at Greenville Hwy/Erkwood Drive

In general, roundabouts take about two to two-and-a-half times as much space across as traffic light installations--and many more downed trees. From the Times-News: The intersection at Greenville Highway and Erkwood Drive will be closed over the next two weekends as crews with the state Department of Transportation prepare the intersection for a 90-day project...