Sidewalk repaved from Palmer to St. Luke’s Plaza

TRYON — It may have taken 20 years, but downtown Tryon finally has all matching sidewalks.

The sidewalk project between Palmer Street and St. Luke’s Plaza was the missing piece of the puzzle, which was completed recently.

Next up is the repaving of Trade Street, from the intersection of Highway 108 and U.S. 176 to the state line. The project is scheduled to begin soon by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Tryon’s Streetscape Plan is about 20 years old, with new sidewalks included in the plan throughout downtown.

The sidewalk between Palmer Street and St. Luke’s Plaza began in March, with the town hiring Trace & Company for the work. The town estimated earlier this year that the project would cost approximately $85,000.

The latest sidewalk project included removing a former, awkward step from Trade Street to the sidewalk. NCDOT will bring the roadway up to a traditional curb like the rest of downtown when the repaving is done.

“A 20-year endeavor is now complete,” said Tryon Commissioner Crys Armbrust.

He thanked the town for its efforts, and especially Trace & Company for its work.

Armbrust also said Rogers Group has begun the implementation of pedestrian pads and ramps in preparation to mill and re-asphalt U.S. 176 from the North/South Carolina border to Tryon Food & Fuel at the intersection of highways 176 and 108.

Tryon Town Manager Zach Ollis said, with the sidewalk complete, the town is now waiting on NCDOT to come and finish the rest of the project.

Tryon Town Council agreed last month to have Trace & Company fix a bump out at Maple Street after the sidewalk is complete. The town has received complaints about the bump out — installed last year — as cars frequently hit it because it sticks out too much.

The completion of the last stretch of sidewalk from Palmer Street to St. Luke’s Plaza is the end of the town’s streetscape project, which has included numerous improvements to the downtown area over the last two decades.

The most recent projects completed were sidewalks on other blocks of downtown, a new sidewalk down Oak Street, bump outs and improvements to the Morris the horse plaza. Tryon also recently repaved a portion of Howard and Peake streets.