North Carolina Highway 108
Encyclopedia
North Carolina Highway 108 is a 22 miles (35.4 km) long, two lane highway in North Carolina
, USA. It connects U.S. 176 in Tryon
to Rutherfordton
and passes through both Polk County
and Rutherford County
. It is a rural country road through eastern Polk County and western Rutherford County, and moderately developed from Tryon through Columbus
and in Rutherfordton. It is also known as Lynn Road between Tryon and Columbus, Mills Street through Columbus, and Tryon Road in Rutherford County.
Pacolet River
. N.C. 108 has an interchange with I-26
and U.S. 74 in Columbus, and another interchange with U.S. 74 east of Columbus. N.C. 108 passes through the center of Columbus, the seat of Polk County, which is the most developed portion of the route in Polk County. Three miles east of the second U.S. 74 interchange, N.C. 108 intersects North Carolina Highway 9 at the unincorporated town of Mill Spring. The section from Tryon to Mill Spring closely follows the front range of the Blue Ridge Mountains
. It passes over the Green River
in Polk County and the Broad River
in Rutherford County. N.C. 108 ends 6.5 miles past the Polk County and Rutherford County line at Washington Street in Rutherfordton.
N.C. 108 is unique for having two roundabouts at the I-26/U.S. 74 interchange. These were constructed between 2004 and 2007 to improve traffic flow at the interchange.
(NCDOT) State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) project I-4729. This project includes making the I-26/U.S. 74 interchange a full interchange with access ramps from I-26 westbound to U.S. 74 eastbound and U.S. 74 westbound to I-26 eastbound. Currently, the partial interchange between the two freeways requires traffic to use N.C. 108 for access from I-26 west to U.S. 74 east and U.S. 74 west to I-26 east. The construction of the roundabouts was meant as a temporary fix to alleviate congestion at the interchange until funding for this project is available. It is currently unfunded in the 2009-2015 TIP, and is not included in the Draft 2012-2018 STIP. It is scheduled for reprioritization in 2012, and will be considered for the 2018-2022 developmental STIP. The project was not included in the Draft 2012-2018 STIP because NCDOT Division 14's funding allocation has been assigned to other projects. Funding allocations may change before the Final 2012-2018 STIP is approved in 2011. The estimated project cost is $20.3 million.
The Comprehensive Transportation Plan Study Report for Polk County, completed in October 2008 by the Transportation Planning Branch of the NCDOT, recommends upgrading N.C. 108 in the future to a four-lane, divided facility from its western terminus at U.S. 176 in Tryon to the U.S. 74 interchange east of Columbus.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, USA. It connects U.S. 176 in Tryon
Tryon, North Carolina
Tryon is a town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States. According to the 2000 Census the population of Tryon was 1,760. The area is a center for equestrian activity and fine arts....
to Rutherfordton
Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Rutherfordton is a town in Rutherford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,131 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Rutherford County.-Geography:Rutherfordton is located at ....
and passes through both Polk County
Polk County, North Carolina
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 20,510. Its county seat is Columbus.-History:The county was formed in 1855 from parts of Henderson County and Rutherford County...
and Rutherford County
Rutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
. It is a rural country road through eastern Polk County and western Rutherford County, and moderately developed from Tryon through Columbus
Columbus, North Carolina
Columbus is a town in Polk County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 992 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Polk County.-Geography:Columbus is located at ....
and in Rutherfordton. It is also known as Lynn Road between Tryon and Columbus, Mills Street through Columbus, and Tryon Road in Rutherford County.
Route description
N.C. 108 begins at U.S. 176 in Tryon and travels east through the unincorporated town of Lynn, where it crosses thePacolet River
Pacolet River
The Pacolet River is a tributary of the Broad River, about 50 miles long, in northwestern South Carolina in the United States . One of its principal headwaters tributaries also drains a small portion of western North Carolina. Via the Broad and Congaree Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the...
. N.C. 108 has an interchange with I-26
Interstate 26
Interstate 26 is a nominally east–west main route of the Interstate Highway System in the Southeastern United States. I-26 runs from the junction of U.S. Route 11W and U.S. Route 23 in Kingsport, Tennessee, generally southeastward to U.S. Route 17 in Charleston, South Carolina...
and U.S. 74 in Columbus, and another interchange with U.S. 74 east of Columbus. N.C. 108 passes through the center of Columbus, the seat of Polk County, which is the most developed portion of the route in Polk County. Three miles east of the second U.S. 74 interchange, N.C. 108 intersects North Carolina Highway 9 at the unincorporated town of Mill Spring. The section from Tryon to Mill Spring closely follows the front range of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. It passes over the Green River
Green River (North Carolina)
The Green River in North Carolina, United States, is perhaps best known as one of the extreme whitewater kayaking challenges in North America that is run on a regular basis....
in Polk County and the Broad River
Broad River (Carolinas)
The Broad River is a principal tributary of the Congaree River, about 150 miles long, in western North Carolina and northern South Carolina in the United States. Via the Congaree, it is part of the watershed of the Santee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean...
in Rutherford County. N.C. 108 ends 6.5 miles past the Polk County and Rutherford County line at Washington Street in Rutherfordton.
N.C. 108 is unique for having two roundabouts at the I-26/U.S. 74 interchange. These were constructed between 2004 and 2007 to improve traffic flow at the interchange.
Future
Widening of N.C. 108 to four lanes with a median and limited turn lanes near I-26 in Columbus is included as part of North Carolina Department of TransportationNorth Carolina Department of Transportation
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries in the U.S. state of North Carolina.-History:...
(NCDOT) State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) project I-4729. This project includes making the I-26/U.S. 74 interchange a full interchange with access ramps from I-26 westbound to U.S. 74 eastbound and U.S. 74 westbound to I-26 eastbound. Currently, the partial interchange between the two freeways requires traffic to use N.C. 108 for access from I-26 west to U.S. 74 east and U.S. 74 west to I-26 east. The construction of the roundabouts was meant as a temporary fix to alleviate congestion at the interchange until funding for this project is available. It is currently unfunded in the 2009-2015 TIP, and is not included in the Draft 2012-2018 STIP. It is scheduled for reprioritization in 2012, and will be considered for the 2018-2022 developmental STIP. The project was not included in the Draft 2012-2018 STIP because NCDOT Division 14's funding allocation has been assigned to other projects. Funding allocations may change before the Final 2012-2018 STIP is approved in 2011. The estimated project cost is $20.3 million.
The Comprehensive Transportation Plan Study Report for Polk County, completed in October 2008 by the Transportation Planning Branch of the NCDOT, recommends upgrading N.C. 108 in the future to a four-lane, divided facility from its western terminus at U.S. 176 in Tryon to the U.S. 74 interchange east of Columbus.