Filed under: Editorials
An Asheville Citizen Times editorial dated August 28, 2008 takes a stance on Corridor K in North Carolina. Here it is. What’s your opinion? We’d like to know.
Here’s a road that simply shouldn’t get built
A recently released environmental impact statement (EIS) gave a thumbs-up to construction of a section of a project called Corridor K. The section would relocate part of U.S. 74 in Graham County from U.S. 129 in Robbinsville to N.C. 28 in Stecoah.
The statement, released by the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, concludes that environmental damage resulting from building the road can be mitigated.
There’s no realistic way to truly mitigate the environmental impact of cutting a 10-mile stretch of four-lane road through a national forest and some of the most rugged terrain in Western North Carolina, terrain that includes high-quality trout streams, prime bear habitat and part of the Appalachian Trail.
The preferred alternative would cut a 2,870-foot long tunnel at Stecoah Gap and would require major drainage structures at Tallulah Creek, Long Branch, Sweetwater Creek (two crossings), Beech Creek, Stecoah Creek, an unnamed tributary to Stecoah Creek and Dry Creek.
Unjustified need
If the road were truly needed, the inevitable degradation would be easier to justify. But it’s not only unneeded, it would debase the very wild beauty that draws people to Western North Carolina.
In addition to adversely affecting the Nantahala National Forest, the Appalachian Trail, other trails, trout streams and hunting areas used for recreation, it would harm mountain communities, displacing 35 to 44 homes and one or two businesses.
Corridor K was originally proposed several decades ago by the Appalachian Regional Commission to facilitate commerce among key Southeastern cities and ports.
But the interstate system now satisfies the need for efficient transportation to Eastern ports and major cities. Construction of this section of Corridor K would make no appreciable difference in the amount of travel time to those areas.
Construction of this section of Corridor K would make no appreciable difference in the amount of travel time to those areas.
The EIS says the construction of the 10-mile stretch of Corridor K would affect the natural hydraulics of some bodies of water.
“After construction,” it states, “Runoff from the highway would carry hydrocarbon pollutants and, in winter, probably road salt and sand into the receiving streams. Chemical silt runoff tends to be episodic; however, prolonged negative effects may occur to aquatic species inhabiting mountain streams.”
Environmental impacts
It also says a related impact could be the alteration of the groundwater systems near the right-of-way.
“The grading of hillsides has the potential to alter the area’s groundwater hydrology, thereby affecting the well-water supplies of citizens in these coves and valleys.”
The road would have an adverse impact on wildlife other than aquatic species, especially bears, by fragmenting forest communities and habitat.
The 10-mile stretch of Corridor K between Robbinsville and Stecoah is projected to cost $378 million. At a time when North Carolina has a $65 billion shortfall in the amount of money needed to address its transportation needs, building an unnecessary road through an environmentally-sensitive area makes absolutely no sense.
The Statewide Transportation Plan (STP) projects that by 2030 North Carolina will need nearly $124 billion for expansion, modernization and maintenance of its transportation system. Available revenue from current sources will amount to about $59 billion. The STP doesn’t address the $65 billion shortfall.
Money needed elsewhere
Nearly 32,000 of the 78,844 miles (41 percent) of state-maintained highways in North Carolina have significant pavement condition deficiencies, according to the DOT.
Declining safety features and poor pavement conditions cost North Carolina motorists $5.3 billion annually in the form of traffic accidents, additional vehicle operating costs and delays, according to The Road Information Program (TRIP).
TRIP also reports that North Carolina’s traffic fatality rate is 13 percent higher than the national average, due to increasing congestion, primarily in urban areas, and to deteriorating roads.
With daunting needs like that facing the Department of Transportation, construction of an unneeded and environmentally destructive road simply can’t be justified, no matter how much mitigation the plan includes.
Filed under: Letters to Editor
The following article appeared on August 26 in the Cherokee Scout.
By CLYDE HOLLER
Guest columnist
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:06 PM CDT
Len James tried to make a case for the construction of a four-lane bypass of the Ocoee Gorge on the basis of the needs of the new Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.
There are a number of errors in his reasoning that can be easily verified by consulting the coverage in the business press.
First, the Chattanooga Volkswagen site already has a rail link, which was provided as part of the deal. Most new Volkswagens will be shipped by rail, not truck. Second, this assembly plant will be building cars for the domestic market, not for export. There is no reason to worry about trucking these cars to an Atlantic port for shipment to Europe.
Third, most suppliers to the auto industry are located in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. If they or others decide to locate closer to the Chattanooga plant, they will choose the Chattanooga side of the gorge, rather than waiting years for the bypass to be completed. Fourth, James exaggerates the frequency of rockslides and other disasters on the existing road. Finally the Volkswagen people already have made it clear that Corridor K was not a factor in their decision. If they don’t need it, why does James think they need it?
Road contractors and their allies will seize upon any argument to advance their cause, because there are substantial public monies involved and profit margins are handsome. But it does not make sense to spend public money on large-scale road construction projects when gas prices already are forcing shippers to move from truck to rail. This trend will accelerate as gas prices rise, because it takes one-third the amount of diesel fuel to move a ton of freight by rail.
Yes, there would be a transportation benefit to building a four-lane road through the Cherokee National Forest, but bear in mind it is going to be a toll road, as the Wilbur Smith consultants have admitted. Also bear in mind that it will damage our tourism economy. People don’t vacation here because we have great four-lane roads. They come here to enjoy the solitude and beauty of the wilderness. Finally, bear in mind that if you don’t want Interstate-3 tearing up the mountains from Murphy to Robbinsville, you don’t want Corridor K either, because they will share a substantial amount of roadbed, and building one will strengthen the case for building the other.
All in all, this is an improvement that costs much more than it is worth, and it certainly won’t help Volkswagen or Murphy.
The best idea is to improve the existing road, which would realize most of the transportation benefit. It should have been done years ago.
Clyde Holler is a resident of Morganton, Ga.
Filed under: Uncategorized
The information below was developed by the Stop I-3 Coalition. We’d like to know what you think about this position paper. Please feel free to offer your comments below.
Corridor K and Common Sense
Executive Summary
US Route 64 through the Ocoee Gorge in Tennessee and US 74 through the Nantahala Gorge in North Carolina have provided an alternate route from Chattanooga, Tennessee to Asheville, NC for many years. It has been considered a scenic route that allows intimate and beautiful views of the Ocoee and Nantahala Rivers and of the wilderness and natural areas enveloping this splendidly unique area of the South. With increasing population in the area, it deserves improvement. We support that effort.
What is not responsible is to endorse the proposal to build an intrusive four-lane highway commonly referred to as “Corridor K” through the area. Corridor K would require destructive road building through two highly valued National Forests: the Cherokee National Forest and the Nantahala National Forest. These forests are critical to wildlife and plant habitat and to good water quality. In addition the road construction would destroy picturesque mountain communities as well as significant historic and cultural sites and the mountain views that draw many people to visit these areas in the first place. The construction of such a road is inconsistent with common sense.
Realities
1. Conceived 44 years ago by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the concept of building a four lane corridor through this area of Appalachia to facilitate commerce among key southeastern cities and ports has since been rendered obsolete by the completion of the Eisenhower Interstate System. Efficient transportation is readily accomplished between Chattanooga and Asheville via I-40, to Atlanta by I-75, and to eastern port cities via I-20 and I-16 with no appreciable difference in time based on this proposed roadway.
2. This road corridor would be massively destructive to the valuable natural and historic assets of the region. Currently these assets generate millions of dollars in annual recreational revenue to the mountainous region. Important recreation resources including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, the Benton MacKaye Trail, numerous trout streams and thousands of acres of hunting habitat would be directly impacted. The surrounding forests are delicately-balanced sanctuaries for threatened plant and animal species which would also be impacted by such an environmentally devastating roadway.
3. The U.S. road transportation system has been based on cheap oil. Continuously soaring fuel prices and a diminished tax base have already resulted in a decline in trucking, while the benefits of railway traffic, already in place, are increasing substantially.
4. Early construction cost estimates for the Tennessee section of Corridor K approach $2 billion with the State of Tennessee responsible for up to $500 million. Completing the North Carolina sections is likely to be equally costly. With budget constraints impacting both the Tennessee and North Carolina Departments of Transportation, and with the pressing need for existing infrastructure repair and maintenance, it is difficult to justify the priority of completing an unnecessary and destructive highway that should have been reevaluated decades ago.
Closing Remarks
The proposal to build an intrusive, environmentally destructive, four-lane road through the rugged terrain and forests of the pristine mountain refuge of Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee would be a major departure from common sense. It would be a disgraceful waste of taxpayers’ dollars during a historic period of economic decline. Existing alternative roadways and railways offer excellent routing for both domestic and commercial transportation. The proposed four-lane roadway would be highly destructive to the valuable corridor through which it would intrude.
Contact: Holly Demuth, Exec. Director – Stop I-3 Coalition; holly@stopi-3.org; 706.508.3711
Last week, Ducktown Tennessee resident Len James offered an opinion that was printed in the Cherokee Scout regarding Corridor K. In response to Mr. James’ opinion piece, the following Letter to the Editor was sent to the Cherokee Scout by a concerned local citizen, Aurelia Stone. What’s your opinion? We’d like to know.
County in Jeopardy??
In response to Mr. James’ article, I doubt that the word ‘jeopardy’ should
apply. ”Jeopardy” refers to “danger, threat, peril, hazard, or risk,” none of which apply to whether or not the county attracts automotive suppliers for the new Volkswagen plant being built in Chattanooga. However, “jeopardy” is an appropriate word to apply to the income and business that depends on the natural resources of the area which will be destroyed and forever altered if the proposed Corridor K is built. Destruction of a base of known income in pursuit of some perceived and unsecured future income is not only ill advised, it is downright stupid. Yes, US 64 between Ducktown
and Ocoee needs to be fixed. There are areas of the road that need some serious work in order to be truly safe. That being said, there is no need to build a totally new road – one that would destroy so much for so little gain in travel time saved.
As far as the Volkswagen plant, why would they want to purchase parts from this area when Chattanooga, Atlanta and Knoxville already have distributors
in place with contacts and direct access to various ports and major
airports. How can Cherokee county get parts into a warehouse more quickly without this access. Does that mean we are going to have to build an interstate (I-3) through here and then get a large airport?
Let Atlanta, Chattanooga, and Knoxville have the parts distributorships. Let us market our area to everyone who wants a break from the pressure and needs to refresh their souls in the peace and quiet of the mountains. Let’s use the natural resources we have to provide a continuous retreat, which we
can also profit from, instead of abusing and losing them for a profit empty of sustainability.
We have already gone the industrial route and found it to be a dead end street. We lost industry in the area – not to road access, but to cheaper
labor outside the continental US. We have adapted by finding our niche in providing a place for people to get away from all the hustle and bustle of the big cities (and all the pressure of heavy traffic and high pressure jobs). Why would we want to seek that which others are trying to escape from and which has let us down so grievously in the past?
Aurelia Stone
