Rowan roads will see improvements with new grant funding
Published 12:05 am Thursday, March 3, 2016
By Josh Bergeron
josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com
Two Rowan County roads will receive upgrades as part of $50 million in statewide highway safety grants announced Wednesday.
Rowan County’s portion of the $50 million in grants will be two projects worth $1.13 million.
U.S. 601 between Salisbury’s city limits and the Davie County line will receive new and updated guardrails. The project’s total cost is $550,000. At N.C. Highway 150 at the corner of Graham and Caldwell Road, a side road will be straightened to a 90-degree intersection. The project will cost $633,000.
It’s unclear when construction on Rowan County’s projects might start. The N.C. Department of Transportation on Wednesday was unable to provide information about the status of either project.
Grant funding was provided through the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. Wake County received grant funding for the largest number of projects, according to a list provided by the governor’s office. The most expensive project was in Columbus County, at $3.2 million.
In a news release, Gov. Pat McCrory said the projects that received grant funding will help save lives.
“One of my top priorities as governor is to ensure the safety and security of all North Carolinians,” McCrory said in the news release.
As part of grants announced Wednesday, the Governor’s Highway Safety Program will distribute $1 million to each of the Department of Transportation’s 14 divisions. The remaining $36 million will be targeted to combat safety hazards across the state using a data driven process.
MCrory’s news release said projects were chosen by using local crash data and other metrics. Additionally, citizen groups, local elected officials and community leaders help identify specific traffic hazards to be considered for safety funds.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Program is dedicated to promoting highway safety awareness to reduce the number of traffic crashes and fatalities in the state of North Carolina through the planning and execution of safety programs.
Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246
