New LED lights to make way for state taking over road 

 

MILL SPRING—Duke Energy trucks were prepping the area Thursday getting ready to replace and move the light poles along Wolverine Trail.  

The new lighting is scheduled to begin next week while Polk County Schools are on spring break in an effort to not disrupt school.  

Spring break is this coming Monday through Friday.  

The current light poles will be moved further off the road and replaced with LED lighting.  

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.  

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 poles will be moved off the road to meet state requirements for maintenance. Polk County Manager Marche Pittman has 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 to be $528.69.