Public has until Tuesday to send NCDOT comments

LYNN — More than 200 local residents packed the Foothills Wellness Center parking lot Tuesday to voice their concerns over a North Carolina Department of Transportation proposal to widen Highway 108 (Lynn Road) between Columbus and Tryon.

Most dressed in bright green “Save Hwy. 108 and Lynn” T-shirts and holding posters against the project, the rally drew people who said the project is not necessary and will destroy the rural beauty of the area.

Dr. Joe Picone, owner of Foothills Wellness Center, said he moved here from Miami for the area’s way of life, and he wants it to stay that way.

“One thing I knew when I came from Miami was I wasn’t bringing Miami with me,” Picone said.

Although NCDOT officials are saying the project will mean that six businesses and four homes will have to relocate, the current plan will wipe out 16 establishments, because most buildings host multiple businesses, Picone said.

He mentioned companies such as Penny Insurance and Benson’s Produce, as well as his.

“According to the new plans, you are now standing on Highway 108,” he said.

Picone also asked why the state cannot just widen the road and not take out businesses, and everything locals know and love.

“If you wipe out businesses, why do you need a turn lane?” he asked.

He said the project will create one big scar all the way from there to Tryon.

Melissa Metcalf LeRoy, who helped organize the rally, thanked local residents for their support. She encouraged people to keep sending emails, “to blow it up.”

“That is the only way to get it done,” LeRoy said.

She told protestors to keep sending letters to the editor and emails to the NCDOT, reminding them that the deadline to send emails to the state is Tuesday.

“Even if you’ve sent emails, send them again on [Monday],” LeRoy said. “I would like to shut down the government’s server.”

Janet Sciacca spoke of tourism being the biggest industry in Polk County. She said doing this project would totally disrupt any traffic going into Tryon.

“It’s not just the businesses that are going to be ruined here,” Sciacca said. “It’s all the businesses at the other end.”

Sciacca also said most of the traffic on Lynn Road is locals going to work and taking their children to the elementary, middle and high schools.

“I don’t know anybody who has complained about this road,” Sciacca said.

Picone said organizers have sent several emails to council members of Columbus, and have not received a reply back. Some county and Tryon officials attended the rally.

“If you live in Columbus, you need to let them know this is important to you,” Picone said.

He also encouraged people to attend the upcoming Polk County Board of Commissioners meeting to speak about the project on non-agenda items.

A petition has been circulating for a few days and has already garnered about 1,200 signatures just online. There are also paper petitions being circulated.

The NCDOT is encouraging residents to send comments by Tuesday, May 8. NCDOT officials said the proposed plan is just a first draft, and they take public comment seriously in making changes.

The proposed project is expected to cost $19 million to widen, add 12 turn lanes and replace two bridges on an approximate 3-mile section of Highway 108 between St. Luke’s Hospital and U.S. 176 coming into Tryon. Rights of way are expected to begin in 2020, with construction beginning in 2021.

Residents can submit comments on the project by mail to Gail Kogut, managing engineer with MA Engineering Consultants Inc., 598 E. Chatham St., Suite 137, Cary, NC 27511-6956, or by calling Kogut at 919-297-0220, ext. 122, or by emailing comments to gkogut@maec.com.

Maps of the proposed design can be found on the NCDOT’s website at https://www.ncdot.gov//projects/publicmeetings/. Enter R-5838 in the search box.

The NCDOT also announced this week plans to improve Highway 108 between St. Luke’s Hospital and Walker Street in Columbus, creating three lanes, curbing and guttering, and replacing the bridge over Interstate 26 at the roundabouts.