When the news broke on Thursday night that NC106 was going to be closed near the Blue Valley Overlook in both directions, the reaction around town was a collective “Ugh.”
Because the road serves as the main commercial trucking route to the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, the closure is significant for business owners needing supplies as well as travelers who visit the area from the Atlanta metro region and points further south into Florida.
Losing arguably the most trafficked artery into Highlands is not good news in any way, but we should all be cognizant that the closure could be much worse.
Following Hurricane Helene, which slammed into Western North Carolina over two days Sept. 27-28, the path of damage was both clear and substantial. Interstate 40, one of the most traveled interstates in the country, is closed at the Tennessee-North Carolina border due to a washout and is expected to remain closed for at least six months.
Interstate 26, which connects WNC with Eastern Tennessee and points north, is also closed for the foreseeable future due to a washout.
So, when NC106 closed originally on Sept. 27, but reopened two days later as a one-lane road, we all were counting our blessings. We thought the power of nature had largely spared our local roadways and things would be fine following some minor repairs.
Unfortunately, last week a team of engineers with the NC Department of Transportation uncovered a large void under the surface of NC106 that was previously unseen from above. In order to make the road safe for travel, NC106 will be closed at least six to eight weeks depending on the weather and the scope of the repairs needed.
Detours are set up to take motorists down NC28 to Warwoman Road and into Rabun County, Georgia, or down US64 through the Cullasaja Gorge and into Franklin.
While the closure of NC106 is incredibly inconvenient, it’s important that the repairs be made correctly. For the next several weeks, let’s all relax and take a few extra minutes to enjoy the scenic routes during the peak of leaf season.