Save the Historic Trading Ford Area (www.tradingford.com)

The Trading Ford area of the Yadkin River, between Salisbury and Lexington, NC, is one of the most important historic areas in Piedmont North Carolina. It was the place where Native-Americans lived and crossed the Yadkin River thousands of years ago. It was the place where early explorers and settlers entered the old Rowan county area in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was the place where General Nathanael Greenes army escaped the British in February, 1781, during the Revolutionary War. It was the scene of the last Confederate victory in North Carolina in the Civil War. Many of its historic sites are being needlessly threatened by a proposed I-85 widening project (TIP I-2304-A).

We believe careful planning can accommodate widening I-85 while minimizing damage to these irreplaceable historic sites. There are reasonable and cost-effective alternatives!

In accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Section 106) and Department of Transportation Act of 1966 (Section 4f), we petition for the revision of highway plans which will both meet our transportation needs and respect our priceless heritage.