North Shore Road update

[TNhiker]

as part of a Trump announcement of $256 million for construction projects for National Parks-----this was part of it...



along with over $2 million for the elkmont water facility....







Alexander: Dept. of the Interior Plan Ends Discussion About Building North Shore Road in the Smokies

Provides “long overdue” $35 million payment to Swain County, North Carolina

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6, 2018 – United States Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said the U.S. Department of the Interior’s fiscal year 2018 spending plan includes a $35 million payment to Swain County to “finally end the discussion about building the North Shore Road in the Smokies.”

“During his two visits to the Smokies during the last year, Secretary Zinke has made clear his commitment to restoring our national parks. This plan includes $35 million for settlement payments for the North Shore Road in the Smokies -- this is a long overdue payment to the residents of Swain County based on a promise made 75 years ago,” Alexander said. “Equally important, it should finally end the discussion about whether to build the North Shore Road, which is impractical today because of environmental concerns and enormous cost. The spending plan also includes $2.5 million to rehabilitate the Elkmont Waste Water System, which is one of the Park’s visitors’ favorite campground spots.”

Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior released its fiscal year 2018 spending plan for National Park Service construction projects, which included funds for projects in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park: $35 million in settlement payments for the North Shore Road and $2.5 million to rehabilitate the Elkmont Waste Water System. In the late 1940s, construction of the Fontana Dam flooded a state highway in North Carolina. The federal government agreed to compensate the citizens of Swain County for the loss of the road. For decades Alexander and others fought against building the North Shore Road through the park – which would have cost hundreds of millions of dollars and disturbed pristine wilderness. Instead, Alexander supported a full cash settlement. The fiscal year 2018 spending plan completes the settlement.

[Violent Green]

The whole settlement thing seems kinda silly, but at least it's over.

[TNhiker]

if the payout actually happens this time (cause it didnt when it was supposed to) then yeah, glad its over...

and likewise..........the settlement is kinda a waste......

that side of the Park was never going to receive the amount of traffic that the TN side ended up getting....

[Burrhead]

I wouldn't be surprised if Swain county finds 1/1000 of an acre on the North side of the lake that is privately owned and builds a 35 million dollar marina. Never underestimate us hillbillies!

[TNhiker]

they already own some land on the north side of the lake.....

its just not in the Park boundaries...

[HooKooDooKu]

What happened to the last "payout". I thought about 5 years ago or so, NC and the Feds decided on a cash settlement payout. Apparently that payout never happened?

[TNhiker]

yeah....

there was at least one, maybe two but i dont think so, payments made right after the settlement was agreed upon...

and there hasnt been a payment since...

i forget what the reasoning was for the non payment.....

i'll do some research later----just checked into a hotel and going to see some music tomorrow..

and if this payment goes through, in theory, this thing is done...

[TNhiker]

a quick search finds that after an initial payment right after the settlement was agreed, the county thought they would be getting money paid each year...

but there is a deadline of 2020.......

the county filed a lawsuit to try to get the money.....a judge dismissed it but said they could file it again if the deadline of 2020 was not met...