The Boone Town Council decided to prolong discussion of the possibility of a road connecting Bodenheimer Drive to N.C. Highway 105 Tuesday.

Currently, the best way to get to a major highway from the university is through Poplar Grove, which is a treacherous road, said Susan McCracken, director of external affairs and community relations for the university.

“We’d like to have another alternative access point to the university, as well as a way to alleviate traffic,” McCracken said.

McCracken presented feedback from the community to the town council after the proposal was introduced as a resolution during the Jan. 17 meeting.

Overall, the residents’ and landowners’ concerns were about increased traffic and speed, but there was also support for the road, which would increase property value, relieve congestion and provide better access to downtown. Additionally, the road would be state-maintained, which would improve snow removal.

During a meeting held in the fall with the Department of Transportaion, Appalachian requested consideration of the proposed road - especially with the addition of Mountaineer Hall off Bodenheimer Drive.

“We told them this is something that’s been bantered about in the community for a long time,” McCracken said. “With the addition of Mountaineer Hall, now would be a time to look at the feasibility of what it would take and if it would make sense.”

The DOT has done the initial engineering, which entails evaluating the topography, locating environmental issues, looking for historical sites and gathering other essential data, DOT Technician Brandon Greer said at the meeting.

Councilwoman Lynne Mason had several concerns: whether the road would remain state-maintained, the possibility of placing the road further from residents, the availability of funding, the proposed time frame and whether walking and biking accessibility – tenets of the 2030 master plan for Boone – would be integrated.

Mason made a motion to consider the resolution Thursday, when revisions will be made to the wording of the proposal.

Story: KELLI STRAKA, Senior News Reporter