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 through 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
A public meeting was held in August of 2022 and the project maps below were displayed at the meeting.
In addition, the response to questions and comments recevied during the public comment period are "here."
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 | 1 |
Cemeteries Impacted | 0 |
Non-Profit/Place of Worship Relocations | 0 |
Streams (linear feet) | 0 |
Wetlands (acres) | 0 |
* The potential impacts are based on the preliminary design, which will continue to be refined as the project development process continues.
Project Funding
| Estimated Amount* |
|---|---|
Right of Way | $ 13,000,000 |
Utilities | $ 10,200,000 |
Construction | $ 45,100,000 |
Total Costs | $ 68,300,000 |
* NCDOT August 2022. Costs are preliminary and subject to change.
Project Timeline
Milestone | Date* |
|---|---|
Newsletter #1 | September 2021 |
Public Meeting | August 2022 |
Environmental Document Completion | January 2023 |
Right of Way | February 2025 |
Construction | August 2027 |
* Future dates are preliminary and subject to change
Public Input
NCDOT conducted a virtual public outreach effort in the fall of 2021. A summary of the comments received and NCDOT responses from that outreach can be found here.
Next Steps
Comments received from the public meeting have been reviewed and addressed. An environmental document was completed in January 2023. The preliminary design for the project has been completed, and the final proposed right of way acquisition and easement needs are continuing to be identified. In August 2024, the property acquisition process to obtain right of way and easements needed to construct the project is scheduled to begin. The project construction is scheduled to begin in August 2026 once the project plans are finalized, right of way acquisition is complete, and environmental permitting processes are finalized.
Project Contact
Heath Slaughter
NCDOT Division 11 Project Manager
801 Statesville Road
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
CajahMountainRoad@publicinput.com
984-205-6615 enter code 9768
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