Last week I read the news article on the NC DOT plans to widen NC Hwy. 108 between Columbus and Tryon. According to the article the cost of widening this 3.5 miles of roadway is estimated at $47,300,000. This is an average of $13.5 million dollars per mile.

Apparently the project is not supposed to begin until 2021. Regardless of when the project is scheduled to begin I am 100 percent opposed to this highway widening.

Personally I live in Polk County because I like the rural character. If I want to live with three or four lanes of traffic I will move to Boiling Springs, S.C., or to Hendersonville. There is nothing rural about multiple lanes of traffic. The existing two lane rural highway between Columbus and Tryon suits me fine.

If I need to I will leave five or even 10 minutes earlier to get to my destination in Columbus or Mill Spring. I hope other Polk County citizens join me in this opposition to this future widening project along NC 108 to US Hwy. 176.

~ John Vining, Tryon, N.C.