U.S. 321 closures in Blowing Rock begin Nov. 27 for blasting
A short section of U.S. 321 in Blowing Rock will be closed
twice a week, starting next week, for blasting operations as part of the road-widening project.
Construction crews will continue blasting the rock at Cliff Dwellers Inn at Westview Drive,
near the intersection of U.S. 321 and U.S. 221/U.S. 321 Business.
According to the N.C.
Department of Transportation, the closure will have a significant impact on trucks and
tractor-trailers servicing Blowing Rock or passing through the area.
Starting Nov. 27, U.S.
321 will be closed in both directions on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. until
further notice. The closures during these times will affect traffic as follows:
All
through traffic on U.S. 321 will be directed to follow a detour route onto U.S. 221/U.S. 321
Business through downtown Blowing Rock;
Through truck traffic will not be allowed on U.S.
221/U.S. 321 Business. All through truck traffic must follow the signed detour along N.C. 18 and
U.S. 421 in Caldwell, Wilkes and Watauga counties; and
Access to businesses will be
maintained at all times for local traffic and truck deliveries along U.S. 321 from Broyhill Home
Furnishings at U.S. 221/U.S. 321 Business to Cliff Dwellers at West View Drive.
According
to NCDOT, visitors heading to the High Country this week for the holidays will not encounter lane
closures along U.S. 321; lane closures will be suspended until Monday, Nov. 26, at 6 p.m.
The NCDOT urges motorists to remember that the speed limit along U.S. 321 remains 35 miles
per hour, and the N.C. State Highway Patrol continues to monitor this corridor for speeding
violations.
NCDOT also reminds motorists to drive slowly, using caution in work zones and to
watch for flaggers standing near the roadway when lane closures are in effect and being prepared to
stop.
For more information, call the project hotline at (828) 964-3260 during regular
weekday business hours (8 a.m. until 5 p.m.). The hotline will not be available on Thursday, Nov.
22, and Friday, Nov. 23. The hotline will reopen on Monday, Nov. 26.
For more information or
updates on the U.S. 321 road widening project, visit the project website
( http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/BlowingRock321).
