$24.9M slated for I-26/US 74 interchange

COLUMBUS – The N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) released its draft 2018-2027 transportation plan, referred to as the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) last week that includes several projects in Polk County, including an almost $25 million project to create a ramp from I-26 to U.S. 74 in Columbus.

The state expects to begin spending money on the I-26/U.S. 74 project in 2018. The estimated cost is $24,973,000 and will be a new interchange at exit 67 in Columbus to revise the interchange and construct regular improvements to N.C. 108.

Another large Polk project on the state’s STIP is to widen N.C. 108 from I-26 to U.S. 176. The state’s plan is for the widening to occur on 3.5 miles with an estimated cost of $47,300,000. Funding for the widening project is expected to begin in 2021, according to the STIP.

Some large pavement rehabilitations are also proposed over the next 10 years. The STIP Pavement rehabilitation from exit 65 to the South Carolina state line is proposed along I-26 at an estimated cost of $5,800,000 and from the Henderson County line to mile marker 65 along I-26 at an estimated cost of $7,300,000, according to the plan. Funding for both those projects is expected to begin in 2023, according to the STIP.

Several bridges are also planned to be replaced over the next decade in Polk County. The bridge over Panther Creek along Silver Creek Road is on the list, as well as the bridge over Walnut Creek off Rock Springs Road and the bridge over Wolf Creek from Hunting Country Road.

Funding for the Polk County Transportation Department is also listed on the plan for annual operating, administrative and capital costs.

This is the state’s second 10-year plan developed under the Strategic Transportation Investments law that was passed in 2013. The law implemented a new process for prioritizing projects based on data-driven criteria and local input.

The STIP lists more than 1,400 projects for all 100 counties in the state, including 61 safety projects and 376 interstate maintenance and bridge projects.

“Projects in the draft plan were selected using the Strategic Mobility Formula established by the Strategic Transportation Investments law,” states a press release from the DOT. “Under this law, projects are evaluated and scored based on a combination of data, local input and other factors such as federal and state funding restrictions, corridor spending caps and the completion of environmental studies and engineering plans.”

The Strategic Mobility Formula funds projects in the state based on the categories of statewide mobility, regional impact and division needs. Statewide project scores are based entirely on data-driven criteria, regional projects scores are based on 70 percent data and 30 percent local input, and division projects are based on 50 percent data and 50 percent local input.

The DOT’s 10-year plan is updated every two years.

The DOT will hold a public comment period this spring to seek input on the draft plan. The Board of Transportation plans to approve the final 2018-2027 STIP in June.

To see the full list of projects on the draft STIP, visit NCDOT.gov/STI.