Elizabeth Brady Road Extension

While we just laid to rest (finally) the threats of Eno Drive, another bad road project is threatening the Eno and the State Park. In Hillsborough DOT proposes to extend NC 86 (also known as Elizabeth Brady Road Extension) north across the Eno and up to the intersection of St. Mary's Road and US 70.

The project, designated U3808, is poorly conceived and will be extremely damaging to environmental, historical and archaeological sites.

Threats to the environment, history and culture

 The proposed alignment requires a new crossing of the Eno River upstream from the Eno River State Park. Several federally listed endangered species make their home in the river there. Sedimentation from construction will put these species at risk, as will ongoing pollution from the added crossing. The proposed alignment is an attempt to cross the widest section of flood plain in Hillsborough. It would directly impact a state surveyed archeological site (31OR227), a National Register Historic Site (Ayr Mount), Orange County Natural Area (EO8), National Register of Historic Places site (Occoneechee-Orange Speedway), and 190 acres of land held under conservation deed restrictions (Preservation North Carolina).

The Eno River is the backbone of natural areas in central Orange and Durham Counties. It is an invaluable asset to the City of Hillsborough and the County of Orange; it should not be further impaired by a large new transportation corridor and the intense development that will accompany it. 

Six existing bridges

There are already six existing automobile crossings of the Eno in and around Hillsborough, compared to five in Durham. The stress of additional motor vehicles in and around Hillsborough can and should be routed to existing bridge locations.  The Eno River Association supports developing solutions to the transportation needs of Hillsborough that will unite the community, rather than divide it as the Elizabeth Brady Road extension is now doing.

Read the Carolina Journal article here.