Polk now petitioning state to take over road 

 

MILL SPRING—Duke Energy took the opportunity while students were out for spring break last week to move and replace street lights along Wolverine Trail.  

The new lighting was put about 10 feet back, so the county can begin proceedings to get the state to take over maintenance of the now county-owned road.  

Polk County is trying to get the state to take over maintenance of the road. It is unusual for counties to own roads. Most roads are either owned by the state or by municipalities.  

“Our next step will be to petition to the North Carolina Department of Transportation to have the road taken over,” Polk County Manager Marche Pittman said this week. “We are currently working on a survey of the road to turn over to NCDOT during the application process.”  

The new lighting was required in order for the state to take over ownership of Wolverine Trail because the state requires lighting to be further off the road than the previous lights.  

The light poles were replaced with new ones and LED lighting.  

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.  

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 could not previously be turned over the NCDOT for maintenance.  

Duke Energy estimated last year that the monthly charge for the new lighting will be $528.69.