Smartrak Technologies on Cane Creek Road has expansion plans
In Fetcher now, there’s an abundance of work going on in in the downtown Fletcher area and along Highway 25...all to give that part of Fletcher more of a legitimate downtown appearance. Mark Bieberdorf is the town manager and he tells WHKP News that the Highway 25 Improvement project through Fletcher includes new sidewalks from Howard Gap Roa to Cane Creek Road at the CVS Drug Store.
There are two main goals, he says...one is to make the area look more like a downtown area and the other is “traffic calming”. The streetscape will include the new sidewalks, curbing, brick pavers, pedestrian street lighting, new trees, and monuments along that half mile stretch.
At the intersection of Highway 25 and Fanning Bridge Road, a clock tower is planned. The outer travel lane along Highway 25 on that stretch through Fletcher will be narrowed by about a foot to give a visual effect, says Bieberdorf, that you are coming into a downtown area...and at the request of DOT, the speed limit will be lowered from 45 miles per hour to 35 for at least that stretch of road.
All this, says Biebedorf, is to compliment their “town center” effort in Fletcher. The project should be done by May, he says...but with weather issues, it may be this summer before the project is fully finished.
The whole thing is a $2.1 million project project...with 80 per cent federal funding, and a 20 per cent local match.
Bieberdorf also told WHKP News that Smartrak Technology on Cane Creek Road is planning to expand...public hearings and possible incentive arrangements are being worked out at this time with Henderson County and with the Town of Flctcher to enable Smartrak to expand and create new manufacturing jobs for the area.
By Larry Freeman and Tippy Creswell
