U-6157: Cajah Mountain Rd - Caldwell County
U-6157: Cajah Mountain Rd - Caldwell County
The N.C. Department of Transportation proposes to improve approximately 3.4 miles of Cajah Mountain Road, from Connelly Springs Road to U.S. 321A in the Town of Sawmills. The existing lane widths, shoulders, and vertical and horizontal curves do not meet current NCDOT design standards.
Safety is expected to improve along this corridor by:
Upgrading road to modern design standards
Treating existing crash patterns at specific locations
Considering bicycle and pedestrian transportation modes as part of the design
*No additional travel lanes are proposed.
Proposed Design
Improve curvature of the existing road
Widen travel lanes from 9 feet to 12 feet throughout the extent of the project
Add or extend turn lanes on Cajah Mountain Road at the Connelly Springs Road, Horseshoe Bend Road, and U.S. 321A intersections
From Connelly Springs Road to Joplin Road, the proposed designs:
Widen roadway shoulders to include a 5-foot paved shoulder within an overall 8-foot shoulder width at the west end of the project (along sections of the road where guardrail is needed, the total shoulder width will be 11 feet)
Realign the existing skewed intersection with Hudson Cajah Mountain Road
Raise the posted speed limit from 35 mph to 45 mph west of the Sawmill town limits
From east of Joplin Road within the Town of Sawmills, the proposed roadway includes:
Curb and gutter
5-foot bike lanes
5-foot sidewalks on both sides of the road
As recommended by the Town of Sawmills Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, the sidewalks and bike lanes transition to a 10-foot multi-use path from west of Helena Street/Kendell Place to U.S. 321A at the eastern end of project
Project Map
Download PDF of Map 1: Connelly Springs to Joplin Road
Download PDF of Map 2: Joplin Road to U.S. 321A
A video explaining how to read a public hearing or meeting map can be viewed below. The video contains information on colors used and symbology.
Project Impacts
Potential Impacts to Human and Natural Resources* |
|
---|---|
Residential Relocations | 17 |
Business Relocations | 2 |
Cemeteries Impacted | 1 |
Non-Profit/Place of Worship Relocations | 0 |
Streams (linear feet) | 0 |
Wetlands (acres) | 0 |
* Potential impacts are based on conceptual design, which will be refined based on input from the community, local leaders and resource agencies in order to minimize impacts where feasible.
Project Funding
| Estimated Amount* |
---|---|
Right of Way | $ 15,900,000 |
Utilities | $ 9,100,000 |
Construction | $ 23,800,000 |
Total Costs | $ 48,800,000 |
* Costs are preliminary subject to change.
Project Timeline
Milestone | Date* |
---|---|
Newsletter #1 | September 2021 |
Newsletter #2 or Public Meeting | September 2022 |
Environmental Document Completion | January 2023 |
Right of Way | August 2023 |
Construction | April 2025 |
* Future dates are preliminary and subject to change
Public Input
The public comment period for this project has ended. Please review a summary of the comments and NCDOT responses here.