I-73/74 Randolph County Welcome Centers Nixed

"It's enough to say, 'Hi,' when folks enter. At the borders it's fine, but we must draw the line. Must we welcome them to the state's center?" --NC Senator David Weinstein, D-Robeson

A bill that passed the NC Senate Appropriations Committee would kill the plans to convert a pair of Randolph County Rest Areas into an I-73/74 Welcome Center. The reason, Randolph County is in the center of the state.

Originally planned to be a traditional highway rest area, the Randolph County rest stops were upgraded to Welcome Centers at the request of local officials. NCDOT was going to use $1 million in federal money to build the Welcome Centers. It would also cost the state $180,000 annually to operate.

The bill orders the DOT and the Department of Commerce to consult and gain the legislatures approval for any future Welcome Centers.

Story: Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the North Carolina General Assembly ---Hendersonville News

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