Connelly’s Creek Road (FSR 86) on Nantahala Ranger District temporarily closed to improve fish habitat

FRANKLIN, N.C. (Aug 17, 2022) – A portion of Connelly’s Creek Road (Forest Service Road 86) will temporarily close starting September 6, 2022, to upgrade an existing culvert to a bottomless arch culvert that improves fish habitat. The road is expected to reopen November 18, 2022.

FSR 86 will be closed from the intersection of FSR 70 for approximately 0.6 miles to the existing wildlife field, Alarka Laurel. No access will be allowed in the area during the closure due to construction activity.

Replacing the existing culvert with a bottomless arch culvert will improve approximately 1 mile of stream habitat for Native Brook trout spawning and rearing. The new stream crossing will also reduce long-term maintenance of the road, increase the flood capacity of the stream crossing, and reduce sediment to a trout stream. The project is in partnership with North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and Trout Unlimited.