THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 31, 1994 TAG: 9410310049
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY SUSAN LADD, LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: GREENSBORO LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
The booklet is called ``North Carolina Scenic Byways,'' but it could be called ``The Road Not Taken.''
Taking these roads, instead of the busy thoroughfares, can make all the difference to travelers who are tired of billboards and bumper-to-bumper traffic.
``It's our way of identifying scenic drives in North Carolina,'' says Bob Kopetsky, a roadside environmental designer with the state Department of Transportation. He has coordinated the scenic byways project for the last two years.
The 31 routes cover 1,500 miles of road through more than 60 counties across the Tar Heel State. The routes were chosen based on factors that include: historic significance, scenic attractions like waterfalls and rivers, and the absence of man-made eyesores.
``We tried to spread them out across the state,'' Kopetsky says. ``I've driven about 20 to 25 of them myself, and it's hard to pick favorites. There are great things about each part of the state.
``The mountains obviously have beautiful scenery. The Piedmont is also very beautiful, and you can see man's influence on the land more with the tobacco barns, things like that. In the east, you see the impact of environment, the water, the history. You have the beautiful old buildings and lighthouses.''
The idea of establishing state scenic byways goes back several decades but was always put off for one reason or another, Kopetsky says.
The project started becoming a reality in March 1990, when the DOT proposed the 31 byways. DOT staffers spent the next four years collecting information - and waiting for money.
Last year money was approved to print the booklets, put signs on the roads, and set up administrative policies and codes for the routes. The signs should be up by the time the leaves turn, and the booklets will soon be available at N.C. Welcome Centers and DOT offices.
``We're very pleased with how it turned out,'' Kopetsky says.
``I can't wait for the interest to develop around it, and we already have people calling. More than anything else, though, I'm hoping the people of North Carolina will embrace it.'' by CNB