FRANKLIN—Drivers who use Rose Valley Road to get from General Thomas Highway to Dogwood Bend Road will need to take a nearly three-month detour starting Monday, July 7. That’s when the connecting road will be closed to through-traffic for the purpose of widening a two-lane road and to improve drainage to accommodate truck traffic to Enviva Pellets.

The 0.5-mile section of roadway between General Thomas Highway and the entrance to Enviva will remain open only to pellet mill traffic and will be controlled by flagmen. Other local traffic will be detoured. Message boards and detour signs will be posted at least 72 hours in advance by the project contractor.

This section of roadway is expected to remain closed until Wednesday, Oct. 1.

As previously reported, the work will also include clearing and grading an additional right of way, paving for asphalt parking, building a storm water retention pond, and making drainage improvements, signage and pavement markings.

Once done, the roadway will have 32 feet of pavement, which includes two 12-foot travel lanes, one in each direction, and 4-foot paved shoulders on each side. There will also be sloped ditches with a 70-foot right of way. A full-length right-turn lane to get into Enviva Way will also be made.

Curtis Contracting won the bidding, and the project will cost $1.38 million with money funded by the state. For additional information, contact Michael Johnson, county administrator, at 653-3015.