The Polk County Board of Commissioners recently commended the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for its quick resurfacing of Hwy. 9, from U.S. 74 to Mill Spring.

Commissioners met Oct. 7 and approved a resolution detailing how the NCDOT moved the project up on its list because of the suboptimal condition of the road, which posed a potential safety hazard to driving, particularly in front of a school.

“Whereas, at the time of the request, the NCDOT predicted the aforementioned portion of Hwy. 9 would not be resurfaced until 2015 or 2016 due to funding constraints; and whereas, in response to the commissioners’ request, the section of Hwy. 9, from Hwy. 74 to Mill Spring was made a priority, and resurfacing was completed in August 2013; and whereas, the safety of the students of Polk Central and Polk County Middle Schools has been greatly enhanced by this resurfacing project,” states the county’s resolution.

Commissioner Ted Owens, who placed the item on the county’s agenda, said the previous board of commissioners was very concerned about the condition of the road in particular because of the transporting of students to Polk Central and Polk County Middle School.

Commissioner Ray Gasperson thanked Owens for placing the resolution on the agenda, saying he’s had several citizens talk to him about the road and that Hwy. 9 from Hwy. 74 to Mill Spring is a gateway road leading into the middle of the county that was “incredibly rough.”

Gasperson also said how important it is for citizens to attend those annual DOT meetings because with the engineers sitting there, residents get more impact.