Project Overview

The N.C. Department of Transportation is proposing improvements to U.S. 276 (Jonathan Creek Road) between U.S. 19 (Soco Road/Dellwood Road) and I-40 in Waynesville, Haywood County.

This project will modernize approximately 5.4 miles of U.S. 276 (Jonathan Creek Road) from U.S. 19 to the Exxon Gas Station located just south of I-40 in Haywood County.

Proposed modernization improvements include:

• Paved shoulders along U.S. 276
• Extension of turn lanes at some locations to allow for more capacity
• Changes to median openings along U.S. 276
• Addition of U-turn bulbs; and
• Conversion of the U.S. 276/U.S. 19 intersection to a two-lane roundabout

Presently, there are multiple paved breaks in the median along U.S. 276 called free access median openings. This means the median can be crossed from either side of U.S. 276 and motorists wait in the middle of the median for traffic to clear before performing a U-turn or proceeding across U.S. 276 to reach their destination. The purpose of the project is to modernize and improve the safety along this section of U.S. 276 by converting several median openings to reduced conflict intersections, or RCIs.

RCIs improve safety and traffic flow on highways by reducing possible points of conflict. Raised concrete medians will direct motorists through these median openings in a way which allows vehicles to make safer turns at angles which allow for better driver visibility. RCIs will sometimes include "bulb-outs", or extra pavement added across from an RCI to facilitate U-turns.  For more information on RCI's, please view this video (RCI - The Right Way to Turn Left).

Some existing free access median openings will be removed, and all remaining openings will have left turn lanes installed. Existing left turn lanes will be extended to the desirable length defined by NCDOT or to the maximum extent practical.

The following median openings on U.S. 276 will be improved:

U.S. 19 (Soco Road/ Dellwood Road)

• Convert to a two-lane roundabout
• Eliminate U-turn north of U.S. 19 and close median

Hall Drive (S.R. 1394)/ Russell Cove Road (S.R. 1387)

• Reconstruct existing RCI
• Add southbound left turn lane/ U-turn onto Russell Cove Road (S.R. 1387)
• Add southbound right turn lane
• Lengthen northbound left turn lane

Jonathan Valley Elementary School

• Convert median opening to southbound only U-turn
• Lengthen U.S. 276 northbound left turn lanes

Fox Run Road (S.R. 1389)/ Whispering Winds Road

• Add southbound left lane/ U-turn at Whispering Winds Road
• Add northbound left lane/ U-turn storage at Fox Run Road (S.R. 1389)

Singleton Drive/ Dennis Farm Road

• Add northbound left lane/ U-turn at Dennis Farm Road
• Add southbound left lane/ U-turn at Singleton Drive

Asbury Road (S.R. 1310)/ Potts Drive

• Add northbound left lane/ U-turn at Potts Drive (S.R. 1310)

• Add southbound left lane/ U-turn storage at Asbury Road (S.R. 1310)

Utah Mountain Road (S.R. 1311)

• Lengthen southbound left turn lane
• Add northbound left turn lane

Hemphill Road (S.R. 1313)

• Lengthen southbound right turn lane
• Add southbound U-turn to U.S. 276 northbound
• Lengthen northbound left turn/ U-turn at Hemphill Road (S.R. 1313)
• Add bulb-out on U.S. 276 northbound

Winngray Lane

• Add northbound left turn lane/ U-turn

Grindstone Road (S.R. 1321)/ Mount Valley Road

• Convert to RCI
• Add southbound right turn lane to Grindstone Road (S.R. 1321)
• Add southbound left turn lane/ U-turn at Mount Valley Road
• Lengthen northbound left lane/ U-turn at Grindstone Road (S.R. 1321)

North of Cicero Lane

• Add southbound U-turn
• Add northbound U-turn
• Add bulb-outs to facilitate southbound and northbound U-turns

Jaybird Lane/ Shady Grove United Methodist Church driveway

• Add southbound left turn lane/ U-turn at Church driveway
• Add northbound left turn lane/ U-turn at Jaybird Lane

Qualla Road (S.R. 1234)

• Add northbound right turn lane

Joe Carver Road (S.R. 1322)/ Marathon driveway

• Lengthen southbound right turn lane
• Lengthen southbound left turn lane/ U-turn at Marathon driveway
• Lengthen northbound left turn lane/ U-turn at Joe Carver Road (S.R. 1322)

South of Farmers Cooperative

• Add southbound U-turn
• Add bulb-out to facilitate southbound U-turn

Ferguson Road (S.R. 1325)/ Pride RV Park driveway

• Convert to RCI
• Convert Ferguson Road (S.R. 1325) westbound approach to right-in, left-in, right-out only
• Convert entrance to Pride RV Park eastbound approach to right-in, left-in, right-out only
• Lengthen southbound left turn lane/U-turn at Pride RV Park
• Lengthen northbound left turn lane/U-turn at Ferguson Road (S.R. 1325)

Suncrest Mulch Yard driveway/ Creekwood Farm RV Park driveway

• Convert to RCI
• Convert Suncrest Mulch Yard driveway westbound approach to right-in, left-in, right-out only
• Convert Creekwood Farm RV Park entrance eastbound approach to right-in, left-in, right-out only
• Add southbound left turn lane/U-turn at entrance at Creekwood Farm RV Park entrance
• Add northbound left turn lane/U-turn at Suncrest Mulch Yard entrance

Bob Boyd Road (S.R. 1326)/ Coleman Mountain Road (S.R. 1364)

• Lengthen southbound right turn lane
• Lengthen southbound left turn lane
• Lengthen northbound left turn lane
• Lengthen northbound right turn lane

Hackney Petroleum Carolina driveway

• Add northbound left turn lane

The following free access median openings on U.S. 276 will be closed:

• Teague Loop (S.R. 1308)/ Hailey Drive
• Gray Squirrel Drive (S.R. 1312) 
• Cicero Lane  
• Qualla Road (S.R. 1324)/ Jonathan Valley Baptist Church driveway
• Southern driveway of the Farmers’ Cooperative

Public Input

Information will be presented on this website 

An in-person public meeting was held on December 7, 2021, between 5 and 7 pm to allow the public to view printed maps and ask questions/provide comments.

Venue:   Pride Resort (4394 Jonathan Creek Road)

The comment period for this portion of project development closed on Jan. 3, 2022

Project Maps:

Map 1:  U.S. 19 to Utah Mountain Road 

Map 2:  Utah Mountain Road to Joe Carver Road

Map 3:  Joe Carver Road to End of Project (Exxon Station south of I-40)

All three maps (large file)

Project Funding:                                          

*Estimated costs are subject to change.

Project Timeline: 

*Future dates are subject to change.

Comments:

NCDOT accepts comments throughout all phases of project development.

All comments will be taken into consideration, and carry equal weight, regardless of submittal method  

Project Contact Information:

Jeanette White P.E. 

NCDOT Highway Division 14 

 Senior Project Engineer

253 Webster Road

Sylva, NC  28779

 (984) 205-6615   Code  6268

Project Consultant Information:

Jimmy Terry, P.E.

TGS Engineers

Consultant Project Manager 

201 W. Marion Street, Suite 200

Shelby, NC  28150

(984) 205-6615   Code  6268

Project Email Address: US276-Waynesville@Publicinput.com

RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS 

Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.  

     
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout      Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions

Right of way Acquisition Process Videos

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