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| Mudslide affects student
commute |
Justin
Boulmay
Multicultural Beat |
Last week,
students who had planned to use Highway 321 as a means to go home
for Easter Break were forced to detour their travel plans.
The highway suffered a mudslide April 10 and has been closed to
the public ever since.
Speculation remains as to what caused the slide, although officials
at the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) have
offered possible scenarios.
One suggests soil blocked underground streams, coupled with the
lack of moisture to the ground caused the slide, according to the
Watauga Democrat.
However, there is no doubt in students’ minds as to what the
mudslide caused: more traffic on Highways 105 and 421, as well as
a longer drive home.
Garrett B. Harkey, a freshman management major from Concord, had
such an experience. Harkey said he had been listening to music and
missed the signs that said the road had been closed to the public.
“I drove out to Blowing Rock before I realized that is was
out,” he said.
“I had to turn around and come back. It basically … added
a lot more traffic on 105 and 421 and really slowed me down.”
Harkey said his normal drive takes about two hours. Having to take
421, he said, added at least 40 minutes to his trip.
Freshman Jami L. Wallick, from Sanford, said her normal drive of
a little over three hours to Fayetteville instead took over four
hours.
Larry C. Reese, a senior biology major from Atlanta, had a different
experience traveling. He said he was “not noticeably”
affected by traffic or delays.
Cassie A. Cook, a senior physical education major from Vilas, said
she also experienced heavier traffic than usual when she drove home
for Easter Break.
“Highway 421 was backed up to Wilkesboro,” she said.
The mudslide has also had affect on businesses around the area.
Cook said her workplace, Parkway Cafe, has been affected by the
lack of tourism.
The Watauga Democrat also reported local businesses in the area
experiencing a lack of sales. Tourism contributes to a good portion
of sales during this time of year.
The DOT announced repairs would be finished by May 8, but that date
was pushed back to May 30 and is still subject to change, according
to the Watauga Democrat.
The delay of repairs is due to the uncertainty as to what caused
the slide in the first place, DOT transportation Supervisor J.C.
Mundy told the Watauga Democrat last Monday.
“We can’t give you an idea as to when the road will open
until we can find and correct the problem,” he said.
Until the road is repaired, the DOT is recommending
that travel north from Lenoir to Boone or Blowing Rock and south
from Blowing Rock and Boone to Hickory and Lenoir take N.C. 18 and
N.C. 16 to U.S. 421. For updates on the road conditions and detours
online, visit www.ncsmartlink.org. |
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