Newcomers of Catawba Valley to Learn About Highway Plans

HICKORY, NC (September 6, 2016)…Members of Newcomers of Catawba Valley will hear about plans to widen U.S. 321 to six lanes between Hickory and Lenoir at their Wednesday, Sept. 14, general meeting. Regional transportation planner John Marshall will speak to the group at 10:30 a.m. at the Hickory airport, 3101 9th Ave. Dr. NW.

Dozens of businesses will be relocated and a new bridge built over the Catawba River. The 14-mile project is estimated to cost $288 million and will include at least two interchanges, at 13th St. SW and at Clement Boulevard. It will stretch from U.S. 70 in Hickory to Southwest Boulevard in Lenoir. Under the road plan, drivers on side streets that intersect with U.S. 321 will only be able to turn right. Drivers needing to turn left will instead turn right onto U.S 321 and then U-turn. Land purchases are expected to begin in 2018, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Marshall, with the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, will also talk about other planned state road projects, including widening the last section of N.C. 16.

This meeting is open to the public and visitors are encouraged to learn about this program and other activities of Newcomers of Catawba Valley.

Newcomers of Catawba Valley is primarily a social organization which enables new and long-time residents of the region to meet and make friends and participate in a variety of social activities, including support of area charities and service programs. For information about Newcomers of Catawba Valley see newcomersofcv.com.