Recently in Transportation Category

Local traffic will be affected starting next week, as the NC DOT will close Highway 321 in between Blowing Rock and Lenoir on Monday and Thursday nights to speed up the completion of the highway-widening project. DOT officials said the stretch of highway from Kirby Mountain Road to Blackberry Road will be closed from 7:00 Monday evenings to 5:00am Tuesday mornings and 7:00pm Thursday evenings to 5:00am Friday mornings. These night closures are expected to run through July. The highway will also be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until 2:00 p.m.

Toyota's president and U.S. transportation officials are on Capitol Hill today answering questions about a massive recall over gas and brake pedal problems. Toyoda is to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee concerning the safety of the gas pedals. Yesterday, it was his US executive's turn to say sorry.

Toyota has recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide for problems related to sudden acceleration and unresponsive brake pedals. The Japanese automaker has repeatedly apologized for the safety lapses and is working to repair the recalled vehicles.

Safe Kids Watauga County is teaming up with Boone Ford, Lincoln, Mercury for a child safety seat inspection. The free inspection, called "Staying Sweet," will held at Boone Ford on New Market Boulevard in Boone Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. N.C. certified technicians will conduct the inspections. Anyone transporting a child is encouraged to stop by for an inspection and information regarding the appropriate seat for a child's age and weight. For more information, contact Watauga Medic Aaron Miller at 295-5218, or Safe Kids coordinator Tammy Nelson at 264-9486.

DOT crews are continuing work on the I-40 rockslide cleanup project. DOT officials said crews also continued putting the bolts into in the foot of the mountain.  These bolts range in size from 55 feet to 130 feet in length. A helicopter arrived today to bring the assembled bolts to the top of the mountainside. Officials hope to reopen the interstate sometime in March.  In the meantime, travelers must take the marked detour around the rockslide.

High Country residents should drive with extreme caution throughout the day and keep an eye on the roadway for black ice. Trooper David Searcy with the NC Highway Patrol said he responded to at least five wrecks Monday evening that were caused by icy conditions on the roads.  He explained that the rain and melting snow that we've seen over the past few days is freezing and causing dangerous black ice.

AppalCart authorities reported nearly a six percent increase in ridership from 2008 to 2009, setting a record for annual ridership. AppalCart's director, Christopher Turner, said over 1.2 million passenger trips were logged in 2009. Turner added that he believes the AppalCart saw an increase in ridership because the service purchased newer buses, a second bus was added on the Orange Route, and the continuation of fare free program on the AppalCart's bus routes.  The service's ridership may also have increased because AppalCart's hours of operation also increased by two percent over the past year.

Roadways across the High Country have had a constant layer of slag on them since mid December as Department of Transportation crews have been working to keep roadways safe through the latest string of winter weather. With trucks spraying this salty mix onto the roadways almost every day, one may wonder if the DOT could run out of slag this year. Mike Smith with the Watauga County DOT said that his highly unlikely. Smith said the DOT makes sure to order more slag when supplies begin to run low. He explained crews pick the slag up from three area rock quarries and that there are thousands of tons of slag on their yards for DOT officials to pick up. With snow expected to fall through Saturday night, High Country residents can expect to see even more slag on the roadways this week.

Local Department of Transportation officials have closed the bridge on Castle Ford Road near Hardin Road because of thick ice accumulation. Terry Tester with the DOT said crews have placed barriers on both sides of the bridge with a detour route marked.  From Railroad Grade Road, residents should turn left onto Highway 194.  Then take Highway 194 to Castle Ford Road. Tester said he's not sure when the bridge will be reopened.  He explained very thick ice has accumulated on the bridge and officials will have to wait until the ice melts to clean the bridge so it can be reopened.