North Carolina: Corridor K

Six Decades in the Making

Challenge: Since the Lyndon Johnson administration of the 1960s, residents and travelers along a narrow, winding, 12-mile stretch of “Corridor K” (NC-143) in the Appalachian Mountains have heard officials talk about the need for improvements. Vulnerable to landslides, it is one of the only east-west routes through the mountains for miles and a lifeline for tourists and locals, providing small communities with access to commerce, healthcare, and job opportunities.

The Solution: With help from the bipartisan infrastructure law, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is adding passing lanes, 10-foot shoulders for safety, and land bridge allowing Appalachian trail hikers and wildlife to pass over the highway safely. Improvements will make the road more resilient, safer, and sustainable.

What They’re Saying: “When you look at a project this big funding is an important part and working with our federal partners – the bipartisan infrastructure bill actually helps us.” – Secretary, North Carolina Department of Transportation, J. Eric Boyette (ABC 13 News, 10/3/22)