Road To Nowhere, North Carolina
Take a 360-degree look around the abandoned Road To Nowhere located outside of Bryson City, North Carolina.
Click here to view it in fullscreen.
About the location
The “Road to Nowhere” in North Carolina is a nickname given to a proposed highway project that was intended to connect a remote region of Western North Carolina to the rest of the state. The project, which was first proposed in the 1940s, was designed to provide improved access to the region for residents and tourists, as well as to support economic development. However, the project was never completed and remains a source of controversy to this day.
The Road to Nowhere project was first proposed in the 1940s by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) as a way to connect the remote region of Western North Carolina to the rest of the state. The proposed route would have linked the towns of Bryson City and Fontana Dam, with the intention of providing improved access to the region for residents and tourists, as well as to support economic development.
However, the project faced numerous obstacles from the start. One of the main issues was the fact that the proposed route would have crossed through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is one of the most ecologically diverse and ecologically sensitive regions in the world. Additionally, the route would have required the construction of a massive dam and the flooding of a large area of the park, which would have had a significant impact on the local environment and wildlife.
Another issue was the cost of the project. The NCDOT estimated that the cost of the project would be around $200 million, a large sum at the time. This led to concerns about the feasibility of the project and whether it would be worth the investment.
Despite these challenges, the NCDOT continued to push forward with the project. In the 1960s, construction began on a small section of the road, known as the “Lakeview Drive Extension.” This section of the road was intended to connect Bryson City to the Lakeview Drive, a scenic road that runs along the shore of Fontana Lake. However, this section of the road was never completed, and the project was abandoned in the 1970s.
The road to nowhere project was abandoned for a variety of reasons. The major reason was the cost of the project, which had grown to an estimated $600 million by the time the project was abandoned. This made the project financially infeasible, and the NCDOT decided to pull the plug on the project.
Another reason was that the project had become politically controversial. Environmental groups had become increasingly vocal in their opposition to the project, and many local residents had also come out against the project, citing concerns about the impact it would have on the local environment and wildlife. Additionally, the NCDOT had come under scrutiny for its handling of the project, and there were questions about whether the project was worth the investment.
Today, the “Road to Nowhere” remains a source of controversy. While some argue that the project was necessary to provide improved access to the region and support economic development, others argue that the project would have had a significant impact on the local environment and wildlife, and that the money would have been better spent on other projects. The abandoned project site is now being used as a recreational trail and a reminder of the what could have been.
In conclusion, the “Road to Nowhere” in North Carolina was a proposed highway project that was intended to connect a remote region of Western North Carolina to the rest of the state. The project, which was first proposed in the 1940s, was designed to provide improved access to the region for residents and tourists, as well as to support economic development. However, the project was never completed due to the high cost, political controversies, and environmental concerns. Today, it serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of large infrastructure projects that are not carefully.
A 360-degree panoramic image captured at the “Road to Nowhere” in North Carolina.
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