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Next Steps
- 1997, Alternative Study Report
From 1995 to 1997, the NCDOT conducted a study of potential alternatives for bypassing the Town of Blowing Rock. Included here is the final report of that study in pdf format, which was published in August 1997.
- 1999, Purpose and Need Statement
This statement was prepared in 1999. It appeared in the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements as chapter 1. It used the latest traffic forecasts and accident statistics available. During preparation of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and as a part of the NCDOT's agreement with the US Army Corps of Engineers to combine the impact assessment processes of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act, representatives of the NCDOT and the Federal Highway Administration met with representatives of the Corps of Engineers. The Corps of Engineers concurred that this statement of purpose and need adequately defined the needs to be met by the US 321 improvements project.
- 1999, March Presentation
On March 8, 1999, then-Secretary of Transportation Norris Tolson presented a video that discussed the status of the US 321 improvements project and the pros and cons of the alternatives being considered. The video was presented to area government officials and the Citizens Advisory Committee that met with NCDOT representatives during the bypass alternative study conducted by the NCDOT from the summer of 1995 to the fall of 1997. Some members of the general public also attended the presentation. The video included a proposal to focus study efforts on Bypass Alternative 1 and the Widening Alternative, but with the addition of several amenities such as sidewalks, underground utilities, and landscaping. The contents of that video are presented here as a slide show with text containing the video's narration. Ultimately, the NCDOT elected to evaluate the Widening Alternative (with amenities), Bypass Alternative 1, and Bypass Alternative 4 in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
- 1999, July - then-Secretary of Transportation David McCoy sent this letter to Blowing Rock area public officials, the Citizens Advisory Committee that met during the 1995 to 1997 bypass alternatives study, and citizens that submitted comments on the proposals presented in the video tape presented to area officials on March 8. It announces the NCDOT's decision to evaluate three US 321 Improvement Alternatives in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
- 2001, July -
- Press Release for July 12 announcing the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement and announcing the NCDOT's decision to delay release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for US 321 until 2002
- Secretary of Transportation Lyndo Tippett issued a press release that announces the NCDOT's decision to delay release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for US 321 until 2002.
- 2002, Key Impacts of Alternatives Studied in Detail
- Click here for the Key Characteristics and Impacts for the following Alternatives. This information sheet was prepared in 2002 and provided as a handout at the project's public hearings in 2002.
- 2005, Photo-Realistic Renderings
The NCDOT prepared several photo-realistic renderings in 2001 of the Widening and Bypass alternatives to illustrate the alternatives evaluated in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. They are included here so they can be viewed at a larger size. These renderings were created using a combination of photographs and the computerized design files.
The Widening Alternative illustrated ideas for adding amenities. The rendering included here for the Green Park Inn was updated in 2005 to reflect the understandings reached in a Memorandum of Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office and a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Blowing Rock. The Bypass Alternative photosimulations illustrate the excavation, and in some cases bridges, necessary for construction as well as proposed revegetation plans.
Click here for the map that shows the locations of the views presented in the photo-realistic renderings.
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