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Murphy – The N.C. Department of Transportation has released its next 10-year state- and federal-mandated improvement plan, which identifies construction funding for the next decade.
The new plan covers 2024 through 2033. It shows no significant changes to plans in Cherokee County or its vicinity. Here are the projects that are underway.
Cherokee County
- B-4049: Replace one-lane Bridge 159 over Hanging Dog Creek on Joe Brown Highway. Right-of-way acquisition begins in 2024, with construction planned to begin in 2027. Remaining cost for the project is estimated at just shy of $2.1 million.
- R-5861: Improve U.S. 19/129 from U.S. 64 to the Georgia line. The project includes additional paved shoulders and a highway realignment to improve driving conditions. Right-of-way acquisition started in 2022, with construction planned to begin in 2024. Remaining cost for the project is estimated at just shy of $67.4 million.
- R-5908: Modernize U.S. 19/74/129 from U.S. 64 to Casino Parkway. No date has been set for the $18.8 million project, with funding made available only for preliminary engineering.
- R-5735 and R-5735A: Highway clearing on Hiwassee Street to improve roadway.
- B-5925: Replace Bridge 223 on Old Highway 64 over Hiwassee River near Brasstown. Right of way for the $2.8 million project begins this year, with construction planned for 2024.
Clay County
- HS-2014F: Work is under way to side the roadway and install guardrail on Settawig Road in Brasstown, with completion of the $336,000 project expected this year.
Graham County
- R-2822B: A $31 million project to upgrade the roadway on N.C. 143 from West Buffalo Creek to N.C. 143 Business is under way now with right-of-way acquisition. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025. This project will improve access to the Cherohala Skyway.
- A-009CA, A-0009CB, A-0009CC and A-0009CD: A $312.4 million project divided into four phases to upgrade and widen N.C. 143 from Five Point Road in Robbinsville to the existing four-lane highway at Wolf Creek. A section near Stecoah to Wolf Creek is estimated to cost $35.1 million and has not been funded, while the remaining three sections are in the process of construction.
- R-5839BA: A $13.3 million project to upgrade N.C 28 from the Graham/Swain county line at the Little Tennessee River to Woods Road at Fontana Village. Right-of-way acquisition is set to begin in 2027, with construction planned to begin in 2029.
Unscheduled projects
A project to widen U.S. 64 East to four lanes from east of N.C. 141 in Peachtree to just west of Hayesville has not been funded, and no work is scheduled.
A project to widen U.S. 74 to four lanes from U.S. 19/74 in Andrews to past Topton and into the Nantahala Gorge area has not been scheduled or funded, but has a proposed cost of $92.9 million.
Ongoing projects
The DOT is continuing with numerous ongoing projects to improve Americans with Disabilities Act improvements, guardrails, lighting and rumble strips along highways throughout the region.
The STIP is a multi-year capital improvement document that denotes the scheduling and funding of construction projects across the state over a minimum four-year time period as required by federal law. North Carolina’s STIP covers a 10-year period, with the first five years (2024-28 in this version) referred to as the delivery STIP and the latter five years (2029-34 in this version) as the developmental STIP.
North Carolina’s STIP is typically updated every two years (but no later than every four years) and developed in concert with federal and state revenue forecasts, the DOT’s Strategic Prioritization process, pre-construction and project development timetables, and in adherence with federal and state laws. State law requires DOT action to approve the plan.
This is the fourth STIP developed under the Strategic Transportation Investments law passed in June 2013. This landmark legislation elevates the use of transportation criteria and input of local communities to determine project priorities and directs the use of dollars for transportation projects.