More than 20 people gathered along River Road early Tuesday morning with signs protesting the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) paving a section of the gravel road.

DOT began paving an approximate 700-ft. section Tuesday, May 31.

Some residents had been fighting the paving for about a year sending emails and letters to the DOT and speaking against the paving to the Polk County Board of Commissioners.

The group gathered at 8 a.m. Tuesday to protest the state’s work.

Polk Commissioners approved the paving in April 2015 by a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Shane Bradley was the only commissioner to vote against the paving. He said this week he voted against the paving because of the numerous residents who spoke against the paving and the fact that he grew up on gravel roads and wants to preserve the gravel road history in the county.

Residents against the paving said paving the section of road will diminish the character of River Road, as it is heavily used by horses and carriages. Residents against also said paving will pose safety concerns for horses because of increased speeding on pavement.

Polk commissioners heard both positive and negative comments from the public last April and May regarding paving the section, which connects the already paved Morgan Chapel Road at the bridge and Golden Road. DOT engineer Steve Cannon attended one of the county’s April meetings last year and said the state had received several requests to pave the section and plans to leave a wide section unpaved for horses and carriages to continue to ride safely.

Residents for the paving complained of heavy dust on the gravel road, people driving circles in the area, potholes, erosion and sedimentation into the Pacolet River.

Residents against the paving who expressed concerns last year said the gravel road deters traffic and speeding and is for the safety of horses.

Polk County originally approved a resolution in 1997 requesting DOT not pave River Road. The board of commissioners last year that approved the resolution allowing the state to pave that section included portions of that 1997 resolution into the motion stating it is still the county’s intent not to pave other sections of River Road.

DOT officials said last year they have no plans to pave any other sections.

The DOT has said the paving is estimated to cost $30,000. It was a section that DOT had all the right of ways for and DOT told commissioners last year they have no other rights of way on any other sections of River Road.

DOT is also leaving a 10-ft. section that is to be compacted with gravel then grassed, to be used for equestrian travel and walking, etc.

Polk County Commissioner Ray Gasperson, who was one of the four commissioners to vote for the paving, said DOT has given Polk County an example of what he hopes the county will see in other paving projects in the future with the grassing of a lane for equestrian use.

“This is a prime example of best practices,” Gasperson said. “It’s great what they’ve done.”