A major hurdle was cleared last week for developers of a motorsports park outside Canton when they received permit approval and awarded a contract for construction of a bridge into the site.

A groundbreaking of sorts was held for the Canton Motorsports Park last week at the site just off U.S. 19-23. The $600,000 contract for the bridge was awarded to Taylor and Murphy Construction.

“This project is alive and kicking,” said Charles Crawford, a Canton town aldermen who has been acting as a spokesperson for the motorsports park, which is owned by Steve Westmoreland.

“People are wanting to see something, and now they’ll be able to,” he said. “This should let them know we are on the move.”

The 80-foot, four-lane bridge will be banked and curved and should take about six months to complete, said Crawford.

The Canton Motorpsorts Park is expected to include a paved 1.2-mile oval track, 1/8-mile drag strip,10,000-seat grandstand and a 225,000-square-foot expo center. Long-range plans include a campground, an equestrian center, a hotel and perhaps even condominiums at the site.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News