Environmental issues, not routing, were on the minds of officials who gathered last week for a field trip related to the proposed N.C. 24-27 bypass of Carthage.

However, about 30 people showed up for the outing that began in the morning near the Carthage quarters of the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

O'Linda Williams Gillis was among those who came to the site but left without taking the field trip. Gillis has been lobbying to route the bypass south of town and away from the Needmore community, where she lives.

In addition to Needmore residents, property owners in the Priest Hill Road area showed up in the expectation that the bypass route would be discussed. They also oppose the northern route.

Tim Johnson, eighth division engineer for NCDOT, says the event was scheduled to collect information about stream locations and to determine certain environmental issues that must be ironed out in the permitting process. From a practical standpoint, NCDOT cannot begin designing a route until a series of permits, including environmental permits, is secured.

Johnson said the field trip was called to discuss such things as the need for bridges and culverts. In attendance were representatives of the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency as well as NCDOT.

The data collected Wednesday will be used for the preliminary stage in preparation for the bypass design.

Johnson said the route has not been decided. And once NCDOT settles on a route, he said it will be at least 2014 before the agency can begin work on right of way acquisition. The bypass has long been listed in the NCDOT Transportation Improvement Program, and its placement has been accelerated in recent years. It remains unfunded, and because of the economic slump, the state is short of funds for road-building purposes.

The purpose of the Wednesday event was not clear when the Moore County Board of Commissioners met the previous Monday night. Commissioner Tim Lea called attention to the notice and asked that people affected by the bypass be notified.

As a result, County Planning Director Joey Raczkowski was asked to make sure the information was available to interested residents. The planning office's equipment was used to dispatch electronic telephone messages to residents of the Needmore, Priest Hill and neighboring communities advising them of the Wednesday program. The electronic message advised that those participating should come prepared to walk in undisturbed areas and to bring a sandwich for lunch.

Three or four different bypass routes have been considered over a period of several years, and from time to time various routes have been discarded.

The Board of Commissioners last year issued a statement asking NCDOT to steer clear of the northern route. However, other interests have expressed opposition to the southern route.

Gillis said that she and other Needmore residents decided not to remain when they learned that the gathering was to focus on environmental needs, not routing.

"Let someone else walk through the poison ivy," she said of the uncertain terrain being traveled by highway and environmental professionals better accustomed to such activities.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.