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 

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      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 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   

* Costs are preliminary subject to change. 

Project Timeline 

* 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. 

Next Steps

Additional input received from the community, local leaders, and resource agencies will be used to further refine the designs in order to minimize impacts where reasonable and feasible. Therefore, the potential impacts areas shown on the maps may change as the planning and design process continues. NCDOT will present revised designs to the community for additional comment in Summer 2022 before completing the environmental documentation. A signed environmental document allows NCDOT to proceed with the next phases of the project including permitting and acquiring right of way needed for the project. 

Project Contact

Heath Slaughter

NCDOT Division 11 Project Manager

801 Statesville Road

North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

[email protected]

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.  

Relocation Assistance Brochure                                 Asistencia para Reubicación      
Right-of-Way Acquisition Process Brochure             Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions