Good for Duncan!

"During World War II all the land on the southern edge of the Smokys in Swain County was taken by TVA(essentially the federal government) to build Lake Fontana, to provide electricity to smelt aluminum for the war effort.  The only east-west road (NC288) was submerged by the new lake.  The people of Swain County were promised that the government would build a new road, IF Congress appropriated the money.  In the intervening years a road (NC28) was built on the south side of the lake, but Swain County has continued to call for the promised road.  Also it became apparent that not only would such a road be incredibly expensive, but that it would cause tremendous environmental damage to the Park, this part of which is really a wilderness and is managed as such.  The road would expose an iron pyrite-containing stratum (the Anakeesta formation) that generates sulfuric acid when exposed to air and rain, causing damage  to the lake and its feeder streams and their trout populations. "

"(Contrary to the claims of the pro-road faction, there has never been any promise or obligation to provide access to cemeteries that remained in the Park.  The Park Service currently provides free ferry service to allow access many times during the year, at a cost exceeding $20,000.)"

"In October, 2002, the Park Superintendent was transferred to Yosemite National Park, and David Mihalic, the Yosemite Superintendent, was transferred to the Smokies.  However when Mihalic learned from the Deputy Director of the Park Service that he was being sent here to push through the Ravensford land swap and the North Shore Road, he refused the transfer and took retirement from the Park Service after 30 some years."

Source: (link...)

 Ravensford: (link...)

Ravensford Land Swap: (link...)
(link...)
(link...)

The Smokeys carved away: (link...)

While we are discussing horrible road conceptions, let's not forget I-3. If you haven't done your part to help stop Interstate 3 then please step up and call or email your representative.

In good news, the latest from (link...) reports these items in recent news: 

"9/21/06, White County News, Cleveland, GA, reporting 9th District Congressman Nathan Deal's comments at a White County Republican Party meeting, 9/15/06: "Asked about the study of an Interstate 3 corridor through north Georgia, Deal said the project would be a long way from being authorized, noting that the costs of an interstate like that is huge. He said he doesn't think Congress is in a financial situation where it can take on such a project." "

"7/06, The Planet – Sierra Club
Proposed Interstate Would Ravage Southern Appalachians
The Dragon’s Tail. For 30 miles, US Hwy 129 snakes around the western end of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park like a roller coaster. Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest stands a mere stone’s throw to the south. It’s about the worst place imaginable to put an interstate highway, but that’s what Georgia’s Representative Charles Norwood and Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson have proposed. Dubbed I-3, it would extend from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Savannah, Georgia. Read more... "

The conspiracist in me likes to note that Interstate 3, named for the 3rd Infantry division, makes a fairly straight line from Oak Ridge to the coast. This military road seems like an awfully quick way to get depleted uranium to a port.

Instead of spending this money on new roads, we should spend on creating light rail capable of car ferrying along existing Interestate corridors. 

I forgot to include this link ( (link...) ) which identifies Congressmen to contact, has a map, and lists the following supporters of I-3:

• Home Depot
• Goody's Family Clothing
• Georgia-Pacific
• Georgia Mining Association
• Sea Ray Boats

Proposed routing and status: (link...)

Wikipedia notes further illogic in the conception of I-3 "The proposed number is I-3, which does not fit into the Interstate Highway numbering system (from a logical standpoint, it could more appropriately be labeled an extension of I-81)."

I-3 is a companion bill to the I-14 bill ( (link...) ) which interesting enough roots its proposal in race. " (2) The Southern Black Belt has an African-American population that is double the national average, due to historic population concentrations dating to the pre-emancipation period." and " (3) This region and its residents, particularly the descendents of freed slaves, suffer from high unemployment, low incomes, low education levels, poor health, and high infant mortality." The bill notes that disparity in transportation infrastructure has contributed to the regions poverty. I re-read the bill removing text like "particularly the descendents of freed slaves" and found it still compelling to create an east-west route connecting the lower southern states. I still find nothing compelling to create I-3 recalling that I-3 will cost billions while reducing transportation time along existing routes by merely 15 minutes.

If they can't afford the couple dozen million needed to connect the two sections of Foothills Parkway, I can't imagine how they'd get hundreds of millions for this.  They should deep-six this road. It isn't needed or wanted.

Hey, Les, why don't we just call each other assholes and get it over with. - Somebody on the old Southknoxbubba.net (if that was you, claim your quote and win net.fame!)