College students tour WNC ‘Safe Passage’ projects
Earlier this year, members of Safe Passage, including the N.C. Department of Transportation, led a tour of wildlife crossing project sites along Interstate 40.
Large apartment complex appears likely for Canton outskirts
The Town of Canton’s governing board will soon consider approval of a substantial residential project after the town’s planning board unanimously voted to accept staff recommendations in favor of the proposal on April 10.
Plans for safe passage: Research yields recommendations to stem wildlife deaths on I-40
After more than three years of research and analysis, a group focused on ending wildlife-vehicle collisions in the Pigeon River Gorge has released a report outlining its recommendations for keeping them safe from traffic.
Searching for safe passage: Group works for safer wildlife crossings on I-40
Growing up in eastern Kentucky, Frances Figart loved any chance to glimpse the diverse wildlife species roaming those Appalachian foothills — except when the sightings occurred after the creatures had become roadkill, something that occurred all too frequently. She felt their deaths keenly.
Interstate 40 reopens in Pigeon River Gorge
Westbound drivers are once again good to go through the Pigeon River Gorge on Interstate 40.
Interstate 40 closed indefinitely after another rockslide
Less than four months after a rockslide in Haywood County closed a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 40, it’s happened again.
Shortly after 2 p.m. today, an announcement from the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced the closure.
I-40 slide cleanup causes closure
Cleaning a rockslide on Interstate 40 near the Tennessee State lane will require the N.C. Department of Transportation to keep the interstate closed about one week for the safety of contract workers and those who would be driving in the area.
More retail space coming to Champion Drive
Planning board officials recommended and the Canton Board of Aldermen/women approved plans that will bring an additional 7,000 square feet of retail space to the town’s rapidly growing Champion Drive corridor just south of Interstate 40.
Haywood commissioners back plan to run sewer lines out N.C. 209
Haywood County commissioners have endorsed a plan to run sewer lines out N.C. 209 to Interstate 40, pledging $300,000 toward the $3 million project should state grant funding for the new sewer line come through.
I-40 cleared of rock-slide debris and open to motorists
Interstate 40 near the Tennessee line in Haywood County reopened early Sunday morning following two rockslides in as many weeks. Only one lane of the Interstate is open through the Pigeon River Gorge near the state line, however.
Following the initial rockslide at mile marker 451 in Tennessee, about one mile from the North Carolina state border on Jan. 31, a second rockslide occurred on Feb. 3 near mile marker 7 in North Carolina.
The westbound lanes of the Interstate in Haywood County were closed to traffic for only six days — shorter than earlier estimates and far shorter than a five-month closure two years ago.
The latest slide left 600 tons of rock in the roadway, with some boulders the size of small cars.
N.C. Department of Transportation crews, with help from Ameritech Slope Constructors Inc. of Asheville, removed an additional 150 tons of loose rock from the mountainside and hauled off the debris from the road by the late afternoon Sunday. The site is now clear and safe for travel.