DOT plans full replacement of culvert under NC‑107; district warned of summer 2026 road closure near Smoky Mountain High

Jackson County Public Schools staff told the board that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) plans to completely replace the culvert under NC‑107 that runs from the Smoky Mountain High School baseball field area toward the commercial corridor near CVS and Burger King. NCDOT officials expect to award the construction contract in July 2025 and to include a construction window during the summer of 2026, district staff said.

Why it matters: The district said the planned closure of that segment of NC‑107 during construction will be disruptive to school operations because a large share of the county's students travel on or near that corridor; capital‑projects staff said the district has been invited to participate in construction scheduling and coordination meetings once the project is under contract.

Capital projects update: District capital‑projects staff (speaker identified as Jake in the meeting) told the board the DOT noted the culvert requires total replacement and the most practical window for the work is a summer construction period. DOT officials asked the district for an "end date" for the next school year so the agency could program an out‑of‑service window that minimizes impact on classes; district staff will respond with the board‑adopted calendar and other operational dates.

Other capital updates reported to the board included near‑completion of a steel ceiling installation at Blue Ridge Early College, a replacement hot‑water tank at Scotts Creek to address kitchen hot‑water problems, engagement with Camp Electric and Duke Energy to install stadium lights at Smoky Mountain High School and Webster softball field (poles were still being manufactured at the time of the meeting), and topographic surveys being ordered for Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain High campus areas for future projects.

District involvement: Capital‑projects staff said the district will participate in regular construction coordination and scheduling meetings with DOT and the selected contractor; staff emphasized that early coordination is intended to reduce operational disruptions such as bus routing and field access.

Ending: District staff asked board members to continue communicating with county commissioners and DOT where they have personal or constituent relationships to help keep the project moving, and to expect additional scheduling updates as the DOT procurement and construction timeline firm up.