The North Carolina Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting to discuss the proposed project to improve N.C. 127 from Cloninger Mill Road in Catawba County to Richey Road in Alexander County. The drop-in meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 28 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church, which is located at 7500 N.C. 127 in Taylorsville.

The purpose of the project is to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion by widening N.C. 127 to a four-lane divided roadway with a grass median, limiting driveways to one connection per parcel, and constructing a right-turn lane at Bethlehem School Road. The project also proposes a new bridge over Lake Hickory next to the existing bridge, a 10-foot side path on the west side of NC 127, and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side of NC 127.

Project details and maps can be found on the NCDOT project webpage at https://PublicInput.com/nc127-catawba-alexander. This information will be presented at the March 28 meeting allowing for one-on-one discussions with NCDOT staff. There will not be a formal presentation.

People may also submit comments by phone at 512-580-8850 (project code 1350), by email at nc127-catawba-alexander@PublicInput.com, or by mail at Verrol McLeary, NCDOT Project Management Unit, Project Manager – Divisions 11-14, 1582 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1582.

[Story and photo courtesy of Rick Gilbert, WACB]