BY BILL BRANYON
Finally! After almost 35 sword-of-Damocles years, the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is actually going to start building the immense Interstate 26 Connector this year. A John Boyle article in Asheville Watchdog states that as of May 9, the NCDOT has been buying and condemning property for the project.
In response to pressure from horrified citizens, the state agency held countless community meetings during which it considered and ultimately rejected many alternate options. Now, however, the final route has been chosen, and those who aren’t in the line of fire can breathe a deep sigh of relief. But while small portions of the road do appear to be much-needed transformations, will we now turn away in disgust and denial over what we’re doing to the people, animals and environments that will be most dreadfully affected?…