Proposed Boone Bypass

[DSS5]

This article details the Watauga County Comprehensive Transportation Plan. - http://www.hcpress.com/news/details-on-the-u-s-421-bypass-and-other-proposed-projects-in-the-watauga-comprehensive-transportation-plan.html

The number one project in the plan is the "Daniel Boone Bypass," a proposed expressway that would go around the town of Boone. The idea is to clear up traffic on U.S. 421 (King Street). Specifically through downtown, where the road is only two lanes. A recent widening of 421 to 3 lanes up to the downtown area recently finished.

Keep in mind, Boone is a very busy college town. Most of the traffic on King Street is local and Boone is very much a destination town.

Anyway, I'm looking for comments from locals or just road experts in general. Do you think the project would be useful? I believe it would a better use of the money to increase bus routes and bike lanes in the town.

Also, another proposed project is to convert U.S. 321, a 4-lane road with center turn lane, into a divided boulevard by replacing the turn lane with a median. Do you think that business owners along that road should be concerned with accessibility issues if this went through?

Here's an image with the bypass shown in blue - http://www.hcpress.com/img/CTPhighwayMap.jpg

[HazMatt]

I doubt anything will clear up King Street.  It'd help if they signed the main route along the current truck route, but I imagine most people already know to go that way.  I'm sure the bypass suggestion is as popular with the locals as the Blowing Rock bypass (speaking of which, did they ever decide what they're doing there?).

I haven't been to Boone much since I graduated in 05, but I remember 321 and to a lesser extent 105 being littered with businesses.  I can't see medians working well on either road.  Not to mention they just widened Hardin St. between King and Rivers a few years ago and installed a center lane.  Why spend all the money on adding medians when you're building an expensive bypass to get rid of that traffic anyway?

I also notice they're wanting to 4-lane 321 and 421 to Tennessee.  Is Tennessee planning on doing anything on their side?  I can't imagine 421 being widened, possibly 91 up to Damascus?

[DSS5]

I'm sure the bypass suggestion is as popular with the locals as the Blowing Rock bypass (speaking of which, did they ever decide what they're doing there?).

People definitely don't like the idea. I'm certainly not a fan, but if it has to happen I prefer the southern route. The earlier proposed northern route would damage a lot of rural communities.

As for Blowing Rock, they're just widening 321 through town, projected completion is June 2016 (originally October 2015 but the original contractor went bankrupt). As far as I know this is what they're doing instead of original proposed bypass.

[hbelkins]

I hate driving through Boone. I'd love to see a bypass.

[WashuOtaku]

Having lived in the area for years, let me just let it be known that these plans have been on the books for years... and may be years still before they even do it.  They finally got funding to widen NC 105 to a divided 4-lane from Boone to Foscoe, so that will be a needed improvement... stopping short of completely widening NC 105 to Linville.

The Southern routing of US 421 is obviously more popular with the locals and likely the route they would take as oppose to the shorter and cheaper northern bypass that cuts through cherished mountain farms and open it up for sprawl (which to me isn't a bad thing).  They obviously can't widen the downtown area. And even though Boone is a destination city for many visitors and college students, commerce traffic does indeed traverse regularly along US 421 into Tennessee, connecting Mountain City and Bristol (not so much on US 321 though; most take NC 105 to Linville, NC 181 to Newland, NC 194 to Cranberry, then finally US 19E into Tennessee towards Elizabethton/Johnson City; Tennessee would need to do some major upgrading along US 321 before that becomes worthwhile).

Adding a medium and bike lanes appears to be more of a city want than a business want.  It would make Blowing Rock Road nicer, but you're right, businesses would unlikely be supportive of it. 

As to the question, would the project be useful... HELL YEA IT WOULD!!!  It would remove almost all commerce traffic out of Boone; not to mention the "locals" that don't live in Boone able to avoid Boone.  Like I said, it's been on the books for many years and it's not been built because of local opposition, but because it hasn't been seen by the state as a critical need.  Of course, there will always be those whiny people that moved to the mountains that will be against it because it's destroying that reason they moved there... don't care for those people, they don't even stay all year, hiding in Florida when Winter comes. 

[DSS5]

commerce traffic does indeed traverse regularly along US 421 into Tennessee

But truck traffic is already banned on King Street. They use the 105 Extension and the bypass. And on those roads tractor-trailers count for a pittance of traffic (and traffic isn't really a problem on any part of 105 anyway, except the bypass which should be widened)

[WashuOtaku]

commerce traffic does indeed traverse regularly along US 421 into Tennessee

But truck traffic is already banned on King Street. They use the 105 Extension and the bypass. And on those roads tractor-trailers count for a pittance of traffic (and traffic isn't really a problem on any part of 105 anyway, except the bypass which should be widened)

Yes, the trucks use the US 421 Truck route around King Street; didn't think I would need to be that technical when saying there is commerce traffic along US 421.  What Bypass?  105 Extension (which is a secondary road, not a NC highway) is more of a spur than bypass (if that was what you were thinking).  Yes, traffic isn't that bad along NC 105, except at the Blowing Rock Road intersection; but would be nicer if all trucks simply went around Boone... heck, would be nice to avoid Boone too if you were trying to go someplace else besides Boone.  Obviously I'm in full favor of the US 421 Bypass.

[DSS5]

I meant this road: http://goo.gl/maps/lnfCZ, which is signed as "NC 105, US 421/321 Truck"

While I understand your personal desire for the Boone bypass, I think that in the end it will not be worth the millions spent, the environmental destruction, and the ruined viewshed. For the residents of the town it will barely make a dent. Use the money to increase public transportation and the bikeability and walkability of the town and improve existing roadways, and everyone can enjoy less traffic.

[broadhurst04]

I would think the bypass would be helpful for skiers during the winter and vacationers in other months too.

[WashuOtaku]

I meant this road: http://goo.gl/maps/lnfCZ, which is signed as "NC 105, US 421/321 Truck"

While I understand your personal desire for the Boone bypass, I think that in the end it will not be worth the millions spent, the environmental destruction, and the ruined viewshed. For the residents of the town it will barely make a dent. Use the money to increase public transportation and the bikeability and walkability of the town and improve existing roadways, and everyone can enjoy less traffic.

Yes, that's the road I said is not a state highway; the road is "street named" NC 105 Bypass, but its officially Secondary Road 1107; which US 421/321 Truck overlap on.  There is no actual NC shield bannered on the road.  I'm just being anal, I get that way when talking to people about that particular piece of road.

Well, you asked the forum for their opinion on the proposal and I provided mine.  I can't help that we happen to disagree here, I consider it a good thing and the road would be very beneficial to the area.  Adding bike lanes does nothing to reduce traffic, especially when you have visitors year round who drive to the area; I don't see people biking from Boone to... Blowing Rock, Grandfather Mountain, New River State Park, or the Ski Resorts (especially in winter).

[NE2]

Secondary routes are state highways.

[hbelkins]

public transportation and the bikeability and walkability of the town

Which does nothing for through traffic.

If I am going to Winston-Salem or Greensboro, the best route for me is to take US 58 east from Abingdon to Damascus, then VA/TN 91 south to Mountain City, then US 421. Using I-81, I-77, "I-74" and US 52 is out of the way. Boone's a bottleneck and a PITA, and the existing signed truck route does not provide a whole lot of relief.

[NE2]

Build a bypass so HB can save 8 miles on a 300+ mile trip!

[DSS5]

public transportation and the bikeability and walkability of the town

Which does nothing for through traffic.

If I am going to Winston-Salem or Greensboro, the best route for me is to take US 58 east from Abingdon to Damascus, then VA/TN 91 south to Mountain City, then US 421. Using I-81, I-77, "I-74" and US 52 is out of the way. Boone's a bottleneck and a PITA, and the existing signed truck route does not provide a whole lot of relief.

In absolutely no scenario is going through Boone an efficient route to get to the Triad from Kentucky, traffic or no. In just pure mileage maybe, but the interstate is faster and more fuel-efficient. I also have yet to see a proposal for a Mountain City or Wilkesboro bypass, two other bottlenecks you're sure to run into. 

[WashuOtaku]

Secondary routes are state highways.

Secondary routes are maintain by NCDOT, but they are not considered highways.  Keep in mind NCDOT supports the 2nd largest state road system in the country, but not every dirt road, farm to market, or side street would be considered a state highway.   All none Interstate, US Highway, or State Highway are secondary routes (except those maintain by towns or cities). 

[NE2]

Failure.
http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/statemapping/
"These county maps identify routes that make up the North Carolina Department of Transportation State Highway System. These routes are maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and consist of Primary and Secondary roads."

https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Teppl/TEPPL%20All%20Documents%20Library/C-25_mm1.pdf
"Generally (with the exceptions set forth in MU-7 which follows this section), the NCDOT has the same and total financial responsibility for maintenance of State Highway System streets within municipalities as it does for the primary and secondary State Highway System streets outside the corporate limits of municipalities."

[HazMatt]

Failure.
http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/statemapping/
"These county maps identify routes that make up the North Carolina Department of Transportation State Highway System. These routes are maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation and consist of Primary and Secondary roads."

https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/Teppl/TEPPL%20All%20Documents%20Library/C-25_mm1.pdf
"Generally (with the exceptions set forth in MU-7 which follows this section), the NCDOT has the same and total financial responsibility for maintenance of State Highway System streets within municipalities as it does for the primary and secondary State Highway System streets outside the corporate limits of municipalities."

There are primary highways (state highways), and secondary highways (state roads).  What you're describing is like me saying I went to the University of North Carolina, since Appalachian State is part of the University of North Carolina system.

[NE2]

You're being anal about some terminology you made up. Congrats.

[WashuOtaku]

You're being anal about some terminology you made up. Congrats.

Pot, meet Kettle.

So just to play with this a little more, since this is a silly argument, there are no roads in North Carolina, they don't exist, only Highways.   I'm sure nobody would be confused. 

[hbelkins]

In absolutely no scenario is going through Boone an efficient route to get to the Triad from Kentucky, traffic or no. In just pure mileage maybe, but the interstate is faster and more fuel-efficient. I also have yet to see a proposal for a Mountain City or Wilkesboro bypass, two other bottlenecks you're sure to run into.

I've done the drive several times and have to disagree. I've also never run into any significant delays in either Mountain City or Wilkesboro. To me, the biggest slowdown besides Boone is in Abingdon, through which I have to pass whether I'm taking 421 or 81/77/"74"/52.

Only reason I ever go through Wytheville is take a different route if I'm doing a down-and-back to one destination. If I was doing something like going to Wilmington via I-40 and coming back via US 74, I'd pick 421 every time over the interstates. (Less time in Virginia, with its radar detector ban and crowded I-81, is always a good thing).

Build a bypass so HB can save 8 miles on a 300+ mile trip!

That's kinda the point. Do something to accommodate through traffic that otherwise gets tied up there.

[NE2]

Build a bypass so HB can save 8 miles on a 300+ mile trip!

That's kinda the point. Do something to accommodate through traffic that otherwise gets tied up there.

Something's been done already: the US 52 freeway.

[broadhurst04]

In absolutely no scenario is going through Boone an efficient route to get to the Triad from Kentucky, traffic or no. In just pure mileage maybe, but the interstate is faster and more fuel-efficient. I also have yet to see a proposal for a Mountain City or Wilkesboro bypass, two other bottlenecks you're sure to run into. 

There has been a bypass around Wilkesboro and N. Wilkesboro since the 1960s. 421 doesn't go through downtown Mountain City either and is 4 lanes with a center turn lane through that area.

[froggie]

To be realistic, just how much traffic is or would like to make such a trip?

I don't see a bypass being cost effective.  Sorry, HB, but there just isn't enough through traffic to warrant that huge of an expense.  North Carolina has FAR MORE IMPORTANT locations which need improvements for through traffic.

[Henry]

There goes NC wanting to build another new road again! Perhaps this might be incorporated into a potential I-x40 spur from Winston-Salem.

[hbelkins]

Build a bypass so HB can save 8 miles on a 300+ mile trip!

That's kinda the point. Do something to accommodate through traffic that otherwise gets tied up there.

Something's been done already: the US 52 freeway.

Less time in Virginia, with its radar detector ban and crowded I-81, is always a good thing.