TRYON – Tryon Town Council is seeking comments from the public regarding the state’s plan to widen Hwy. 108 between I-26 and U.S. 176 in 2021.

Tryon Town Council met Tuesday, Jan. 17 and discussed a meeting employees had with the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the project.

The DOT has the project on its draft 2018-2027 State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP), estimated to cost $47,300,000. The state’s draft plan says the widening will occur on 3.5 miles of Hwy. 108. It is almost exactly 3.5 miles from the roundabout in Columbus to the first stop light in Tryon along Hwy. 108 in front of the Sunoco gas station and Tryon Elementary School.

Tryon Town Manager Zach Ollis said he and community development director Paula Kempton had an oversight meeting with the DOT on Jan. 17 regarding what the state is envisioning. Ollis said it was delivered to the town with the initial intent for four lanes with a median, curb and guttering, and sidewalks.

“It’s a big project,” Ollis told council. “It will change a lot forever.”

Tryon commissioner Bill Ingham said everyone who has spoken to him says to leave it alone.

“I don’t think it needs to be widened at all,” said Ingham.

Tryon Mayor Alan Peoples said driving the road every day, he’s never seen a traffic problem except at the roundabouts in Columbus.

Ollis said the state is looking to start the project around 2021, so construction is expected to be from 2025-2030.

“(The state) is looking at what are you going to need down the road,” said Ollis.

Ollis said while a two-lane works now, it may not work in the future. He said the maximum cars per day capacity along Hwy. 108 is 15,000, and the county is currently at 9,000 cars a day.

“I do want some sort of discussion regarding what this board and the community wants,” Ollis said.

Commissioner Bill Crowell said he doesn’t want four lanes along Hwy. 108.

“I’d like to see sidewalks and turning lanes, but four lanes? No.” Crowell said.

Ollis told commissioners the process to get to this point was presentations from local rural planning organizations (RPO).

Kempton said she sits on the RPO as does Columbus Town Manager Tim Barth. She said at the time the local RPO voted, they voted that widening was needed to include bike paths and sidewalks. Kempton said the local vote was not for more lanes, but the state took that recommendation and expanded it.

Commissioner Crys Armbrust said there was a huge community meeting nine or so years ago about the widening of Hwy. 108 and the whole community “unilaterally said no. It was not well-received.”

Kempton said DOT officials said this is the first option and then they will start to listen to the community and possibly offer different solutions.

Ollis said the state does not have drawings yet as far as rights of ways or easements but he could email council overhead photos the state has between I-26 and U.S. 176. Kempton added that the plan does have a bike path, too.

Council invites residents to speak on the subject during the town’s next meeting work session, scheduled for Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. Tryon’s regular meeting begins at 7 p.m.

The DOT also says it plans public hearings in the spring regarding the draft STIP, which is not yet approved by the state.