Tryon will now put in guardrails at entrance to town

TRYON—Plans have changed for Erskine Bridge coming into Tryon. 

Due to costs and requirements from the state, the town will now install guardrails at the bridge. 

Tryon Town Council met Tuesday and discussed what they want at the bridge. 

Town Manager Zach Ollis said he has spoken with an engineer with the North Carolina Department of Transportation regarding the bridge. 

The town had previously discussed wanting to beautify Erskine Bridge, located along Highway 108 near McFarland Funeral Chapel and Scriven Road. Officials had discussed taking out the concrete barriers and building a nice entry into town with rockwork that matched the downtown clock tower and light posts. 

The NCDOT was going to require sidewalks and other requirements, so town council decided the expense was too high to do the work originally intended. 

Ollis said he had originally asked about timbers similar to ones along the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Ollis said to be clear commissioners do not want any rock work and instead install guard rails. Ollis also asked if commissioners wanted regular guardrails or if they wanted them in brown or green. 

Commissioner Crys Armbrust said he would prefer the guard rails in green and said the guardrail plan will be much less expensive for the town.