In light of swirling misinformation and confusion about the Brevard Road/US 64 Improvement project through Laurel Park and which businesses/properties will be affected, I spoke directly with all primary sources involved in the project, getting the real skinny.
Those sources would be the owner of Dixie Diner (the restaurant business), the owner of the property and building housing Dixie Diner, who also owns the Car Wash and Energy Mart gas station & convenience store, and the DOT Civil Engineer referred to me by DOT state, regional, and local offices, that’s working on the project.
Here’s What’s Up:
- The DOT has never had and does not have any plans to require demolition of any buildings.
- Proposed easements for drainage, construction, and utilities along US 64 will mean loss of Dixie Diner’s front parking lot and some land in front of both the Car Wash and Gas Station at the US 64/Brevard Rd/Daniel Dr intersection.
- This should mean a permanent Dixie Diner front parking lot sinkhole fix. Finally.
- Not sure if the Dixie Diner rear parking lot will be expanded.
- Dixie Diner’s front door will be 25’ to 30’ from the new Sidewalk.
- Energy Mart pumps have already been removed from the gas station, but underground tanks will remain in place for now. No word yet on whether pumps will be placed somewhere else on adjacent property with access to the tanks or not.
- The roundabout at US 64 and Daniel Drive will be raised about six feet from current road level. (Should be interesting)
- A new retaining wall will curve around the corner of the gas station closest to the Daniel Dr roundabout.
- Both sides of US 64 will have a 5’ wide Bike Lane AND a 5’ wide Sidewalk.
- Click on each image for larger PDF view. They’re large files so give them a sec to load.
US 64 Brevard Road Widening Project Detail Map
NOTE: I believe this project has a 2028 estimated completion date. You know how construction goes. Changes and delays happen. Business and property owners can always change their mind and decide to put land or buildings to different uses. Just know the DOT is not taking any buildings as of now.
12 comments
What a waste of money!
Oh goody! More wasted money on bike lanes. Lanes catch debris from roadway, making unusable for bikes, so they move back out into the roadway.
Be friends of the acoustic Trail newsletter said in the May 2026 issue that the ecusta Trail will be closed down between White Pine and Dannielle Drive starting July 6 for 105 days with no trail detours available. Better get your trail riding in before july 6.
Good information, Steve. Thank you! Just FYI, I have to manually approve every comments before it goes live. Just got home from an evening out and approved all your comments.
Thx! Sorry for my typos in the first sentence. First sentence should read ‘the friends of the ecusta trail newsletter…’
No problem. I understood. Most people reading it probably understood, too. 🙂
I was told that, although the owner of Dixie diner is not forced to demolish his building, he is going to demolish it and build something different. So the state is not forcing him to demolish it, but he is going to demolish it.
Thanks. He didn’t mention anything like that when I spoke to him, but being successful in what he does, I’m sure he doesn’t share his plans with everyone. Just a guess. I do understand that the building needs a lot of work.
Despite 2 dixie diner waitresses telling me this, it could still be incorrect info
It could be completely true, Steve. If the owner has plans to demolish and build something else, he probably wouldn’t want to undermine the current owner of Dixie Diner (the business) by saying that publicly, potentially killing business long before any demolition. I hope people will support Dixie Diner as long as it’s in business. I’m presenting facts and what the players are saying publicly, avoiding 2nd and 3rd hand information about events that might or might not happen.
That said, I specifically included this in the NOTE at the end of the article: “Business and property owners can always change their mind and decide to put land or buildings to different uses. Just know the DOT is not taking any buildings as of now.” Guess I should have added, “there might be information some of those involved don’t want to share publicly at this time”.
The Ecusta Trail Between Danil Drive and White Pine will need to be raised. Have you hear any news about the trail and any closures upcoming?
Hi Steve. No, haven’t heard anything about changes or closures re the trail. Good question, though. If I speak to the Civil Engineer again, I’ll ask. I’ll take a closer look at the drawing, too. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.