Press release from the N.C. Department of Transportation:
The path to improvements on Sweeten Creek Road continues at a public meeting from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Arden Presbyterian Church, 2215 Hendersonville Road.
The N.C. Department of Transportation, in close partnership with the City of Asheville, invites the public to view and comment on project concepts developed by city staff, NCDOT engineers and consultants.
A combination of alternatives are being considered to minimize impacts to churches, businesses, residential communities, historic properties, wetlands and streams.
“We’re happy to receive helpful input from city officials who helped develop these concepts,” NCDOT Division 13 Project Development Engineer Steve Cannon said. “We all want to develop a project that will serve Asheville citizens, and visitors as soon as possible and last well into the future.”
The proposed project will alleviate congestion, improve traffic flow and create new bicycle and pedestrian accommodations between Rock Hill Road and Hendersonville Road. In 2016, average daily traffic varied from 19,000 vehicles per day near Mills Gap Road to 14,000 vehicles per day near Royal Pines. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements are in the city’s Asheville in Motion Mobility Plan.
Improvements to Sweeten Creek were listed among the highest priority projects in the French Broad River Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) comprehensive transportation plan. NCDOT Division 13, City of Asheville, and the MPO supported the project for funding.
At the meeting, project team members will be available to discuss the concepts, answer questions and receive feedback. All comments will be considered as the project plans are developed. A second public meeting will be held in the future with more detailed design maps.
Maps and additional information will be posted on the NCDOT’s public meetings website as they becomes available.
Contact NCDOT Project manager Ahmad Al-Sharawneh at 919-707-6010 or aalsharawneh@ncdot.gov or Consultant Project Manager Craig Young at craig.young@threeoaksengineering.com or 919-656-6581 to submit comments or for additional information. Comments may be submitted until Dec. 13.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Lauren Putnam at lnputnam1@ncdot.gov or 919-707-6072 as early as possible, so arrangements can be made.
Persons who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.
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