The NCDOT 107, R5600 project team met on April 30, 2026 with local government and other key stakeholders last week to discuss the status of the road project.
Utility setback work is currently in process and when completed, the stream bank widening portion will begin near Lowes with pre-cast stormwater units. The NCDOT Construction Team is working with contractors to ensure safety and minimize disruptions.
Road widening construction should begin in June of 2027 beginning on the West side of the corridor from the Coffee Shop towards Burger King, and will be done at night to minimize traffic disruptions. Some smaller parts of the project may be addressed earlier than scheduled in the timeline in order to speed up the construction process.
NCDOT will be presenting at the Rotary Club meeting on May 7 at 12 pm at Creekside Oyster House in Sylva. If you would like to attend, please email Rotary President, Jay Spiro at Jay@4Smokies.com.
R-5600 NC 107 Road Construction Project Status Update
Note: This information is provided by the Town of Sylva in cooperation with NCDOT to provide our community with a general understanding of what to expect during the construction of NC 107. This bulletin reflects the best available information at the time, but as with any active construction project, details are subject to change based on unforeseen circumstances and inevitable complexities encountered on-site.
Recent News
• Final design plans are complete.
• Right-of-Way acquisition is complete. No additional structure removal is anticipated.
• Utility relocation is underway.
• The construction contract was awarded in December 2025 to Buchanan and Sons, Inc., based in Whittier, NC.
• Contract amount: $103,347,870.97
• Road construction is expected to finish by May 2031.
General notes
• Much of the first year will consist of relocating above-ground and below-ground utilities and drainage structures to make way for the road work.
• To minimize impacts on local traffic, lane closures will primarily occur in the evening, between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM, when possible.
• Dynamic message boards will be used to notify the traveling public of upcoming lane shifts or closures.
• Access to businesses will be maintained during business hours to the maximum extent possible.
• The contract includes accommodation for major events such as graduation ceremonies, major festivals, and sporting events.
• Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
• Short-duration utility interruptions may occur and will be communicated to customers by their utility provider.
• Throughout the duration of the project, travelers should expect periodic delays and allow extra travel time.
• Due to extensive night work, residents in the corridor may experience increased nighttime construction noise.
Anticipated Construction Sequencing
• Phase 1: work on the west side of the corridor (right side when traveling south from the Coffee Shop towards Burger King)
• Phase 2: work on the east side of the corridor (left side when traveling south, from Jackson Paper towards Evans Road)
• Phase 3: work in the center of the corridor – medians, paving, striping, signals, etc.
Project Features
• The NC 107 project was identified as a local need in the Jackson County Comprehensive Transportation Plan. It was prioritized for funding in Prioritization 3.0 and funded for construction in the 2016-2025 STIP.
• The project extends 2.6 miles, from Mill Street in downtown Sylva to Lovedale Rd, including a portion of Asheville Highway up to Skyland Dr.
• The dangerous center turn lane will be replaced with a median, and left turns will occur only at certain locations.
• The new design will greatly reduce crashes caused by conflicting left turns. It will also provide smoother and more predictable traffic flow through the corridor.
• Several bulb-outs will be constructed to allow a wider area for large vehicles to make U-turns.
• There are no roundabouts included in the project.
• Bike lanes and sidewalks are included in the project.
For more information, contact Bernadette Peters, Economic Development Director at mainstreet@townofsylva.org or 828.586.2719. For a complete history of this project, please visit https://townofsylva.org/nc107-r-5600-road-project/.
