BOONE — Work has begun on a project widening 1.1 miles of U.S. 421 – the section also known as King Street – from U.S. 321 (Hardin Street) to east of N.C. 194 (Jefferson Road).
The N.C. Dept. of Transportation awarded a $15.2 million contract in June to Blythe Development Co. of Charlotte for the road improvements. The project is supposed to be complete in December 2011.
About 45,000 vehicles use the road there daily.
King Street varies there from between two and five lanes. The road is being widened from four to six lanes, divided by a median.
The project also includes:
• Constructing 12-foot wide inside travel lanes and 14-foot wide outside travel lanes to accommodate bicycles.
• Constructing 5-foot-wide sidewalks along both sides of the highway.
• Realigning Daniel Boone Drive to tie into the existing U.S. 421-221/N.C. 194 intersection.
Demolition, structure removal and utilities relocation will continue throughout September, as will grading and preparing work for retaining walls across from New Market Center and temporary signal installation.
To lessen the effect on drivers during construction, the contractor cannot close or narrow a lane on King Street, U.S. 221/N.C. 105, Hardin Street, New Market Boulevard or N.C. 194 from 7 to 8:30 a.m. or from 3:30 to 6 p.m. weekdays.
During leaf season in October, the contractor cannot close or narrow a lane between 6 p.m. on Thursdays until 7 a.m. on Mondays. The contract also restricts lane closures over holidays and for Appalachian State University home football games, as well as other special events in the area.
For additional information and to see a visualization depicting what U.S. 421 will look like upon completion, as well as additional project photos, visit the project Web site at www.ncdot.gov/projects/US421Widening/.
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