Oak Street Extension construction continues; there have been many of obstacles and slow-downs

Crews from Site Development Corp. were busy last week leveling cement as sidewalk construction continues along Oak Street Extension in Forest City. The estimated $4 million project was approved by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

The 0.6 miles of roadway includes dedicated turning lanes from Piney Ridge Road onto Oak Street Extension and an additional lane from Piney Ridge Road to Allendale Drive, constructing sidewalks, curbs and building retaining walls in several areas, including the area of the Burger King that is also on-going.

According to the NCDOT, widening this road was necessary to help improve traffic flow and safety in that area. Oak Street is one of two roads in Rutherford County that are considered over-capacitated.

In the process of construction and building sideways and curbing, that began in 2018 approximately 25 parcels of land were impacted by the project and $450,000 was set aside by the DOT for right-of-way takings.

The construction was scheduled to be completed in 2019, but numerous factions have caused a least a two year delay.

Danny Holtzclaw, a DOT employee, said the project has been slowed down due to the relocation of numerous utility lines along the roadway, the problem of not being able to move some of the lines and having to relocate them, the global pandemic in 2020, the state budget crisis and the challenge of getting the needed supplies.

"Looking right now, we could be finished by the Summer of 2022," he said.

The public is urged to drive with caution along the extremely busy stretch of roadway.