In June of 2008, officials with the Tennessee and North Carolina Departments of Transportation released a draft stating their intent to construct a new highway, deemed “Corridor K,” through the Stecoah Gap and across the Appalachian Trail. Corridor K would cut through the mountains of southeastern Tennessee and southwestern North Carolina connecting Chattanooga to Asheville, via the Ocoee Gorge in Tennessee and the Cheoah Mountains in North Carolina. Completed portions of Corridor K would pave the way for Interstate 3, a road proposed to run from Savannah to Knoxville.

Part of the proposal calls for expanding U.S. Route 64 through the Cherokee National Forest (Tennessee) and U.S. Route 74 between Stecoah and Robbinsville (North Carolina), into a four-lane highway. The road would gash through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests, requiring the excavation of rock, and cutting tunnel under the Snowbird Mountains in North Carolina. The pyretic rock exposed by the project would result in acid-laden runoff in mountain streams.

Congressman Zach Wamp advocates the construction of Corridor K/Highway 64 bypass in Polk County, with a whopping projected cost of $2.3 billion, 20 percent of which would have to come from the Tennessee budget.

A portion of the proposed Corridor K is part of the Ocoee Scenic Byway, the nation’s first National Forest Scenic Byway and a Tennessee Scenic Parkway. Construction of the roadway would remove a vast amount of forest. The proposal for Corridor K seems irrational considering the potential environmental destruction that it would create. Corridor K would destroy a southern treasure, replacing part of our mountains with asphalt, concrete and pollution (water, air, and noise). Tennessee and North Carolina are perhaps best known for their natural beauty, including the public treasures of the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests. The two National Forests receive a million+ of visitors annually. Visitors to the area, who contribute to the local economy, will begin to diminish upon the construction of this new highway, finding other areas to fulfill their recreational needs.

Those who are pushing Corridor K emphasize the new road is necessary for the safety of travelers and rapid truck transports. Supporters believe the new road will promote business growth to the area. But, another highway is not the answer. If we degrade the beauty of our region, the number of visitors to the area could decrease significantly, therefore, having a negative effect on the economic growth of the region. Havelock Ellis said it best when he stated, “The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands.”

In addition to taking away the God-given beauty of the mountains, Corridor K would have a detrimental effect on the animals and plants in the area. The 2003 Draft Environmental Impact Statement, developed for the Tennessee portion of Corridor K, indicated that 35+ rare species could have moderate to very high possibilities of being affected by this project. The sighting of animals, such as bear and deer, that the national forests are known for, will decrease with the addition of a new four-lane highway. Corridor K will also present a higher threat of danger for our animals.

U.S. 64 can be difficult for trucks to navigate and has a higher rate of accidents than similar roads. Slight modifications to the current road alignments, could improve the safety of the road, without harmfully impacting the surrounding wilderness and neighboring Hiawassee watershed. In 2004 the Tennessee Department Of Transportation (TDOT) and state legislators recommended straightening several curves in the 16-mile stretch of U.S. 64, at a cost of roughly $19 million, but that project was stalled. However, if they are so caught up in “fixing” this road, maybe this idea should be reconsidered instead of spending billions on a new highway.

The timing for proposing Corridor K is ghastly. We are in an economic downturn. Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the month of December was 10.9 percent. Our college students are graduating after years of working toward a degree to become a statistic: unemployed. We continue to place more money into education funds, encouraging children to go to college when we now cannot guarantee them a steady job or even any job once they graduate.

Right now, we need to place our attention on our own economy. The United States lost 2.3 million jobs as a result of the trade imbalance with China alone between 2001-2007. In order to improve our nation, we have to first decrease our own unemployment rate and stop sending an outsourcing of jobs to countries like China and India. A new highway is not a necessity right now. Corridor K would not create the amount of jobs this region needs to survive. Instead of spending billions on Corridor K, we should use that money to generate jobs for locals. By bringing manufacturing companies to our region, we could decrease the unemployment rate in our country.

Also, in his proposed 2010-2011 budget, Governor Phil Bredesen suggested TennCare cuts. The impact of the new proposed cut, in addition to last year’s cuts, could cost hospitals alone up to $500 million in state and federal funding. The lack of funding could force some hospitals and facilities to close their doors. If we continue cutting TennCare, people cannot get the care they need. The continuation of these cuts will be devastating to our society; a society in which people are already struggling to make enough money to survive. Instead of blowing billions on Corridor K, we could also use part of that money to work towards providing affordable insurance to more people in our state.

If you agree with any of this, please contact your elected officials. In addition, public workshops are scheduled for Feb. 16 at Polk County High School and Feb. 17 at Copper Basin High School. Both meetings are scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Comments can be made through the public involvement link at www.tdot.state.tn.us/corridork.

“The struggle to save the global environment is in one way much more difficult than the struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves. We are the enemy, just as we have only ourselves as allies,” Al Gore once stated. If we wish to save our mountain region, we are going to have to bind together and fight for it. Everyone has a voice. Please raise yours.

Jessi Cross
journalist2136@netzero.net

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Why are 'progressives' so often opposed to progress?

Perhaps we should have a law stating that anyone who wishes to cross the Appalachians must do so on foot or horseback.

The views would be prettier.

Sam Deaton
North Chattanooga