New lights going up
Published 10:52 pm Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Duke Energy to replace lights on Wolverine Trail
MILL SPRING—To not interrupt school, new streets lights will be installed along Wolverine Trail in Mill Spring during spring break.
Spring break is scheduled for the week before Easter this year, April 15-19.
The Polk County Board of Commissioners met last week and heard from county manager Marche Pittman.
Pittman said Duke Energy will be replacing and moving the street lights during spring break.
The move of the street lights is the county’s effort to get the state of North Carolina to take over maintenance of Wolverine Trail.
“We scheduled the lights to be done over spring break so it doesn’t impact the kids,” Pittman said.
Wolverine Trail leads to Polk County Middle School, as well as the county’s recreation complex and the Polk County Department of Social Services. It also serves as a cut-through to Silver Creek Road from Highway 108.
Polk County signed an agreement last November with Duke Energy to get the new lights on Wolverine Trail. The new lighting will be LED and poles along the road, with the poles being moved off the road to meet state requirements for maintenance. Pittman said the current lighting is no far enough off the roadway for the state to take over ownership.
Pittman told commissioners last year the road is getting old and will need paving soon. Because the lighting is not at least 10 feet off the state right of way, the road cannot currently be turned over the North Carolina Department of Transportation for maintenance.
Duke Energy estimated the monthly charge for the new lighting will be $528.69.