Final, $35M payment made Saturday on infamous 'Road to Nowhere'

SWAIN COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — We have a major update on the "Road to Nowhere."

The final payment was made Saturday, for the project in Swain County--that was never built.

GOP Congressmen Thom Tillis and Mark Meadows joined Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke at the Heritage Museum in Bryson City.

They delivered the more than $35 million earmarked for the last of the federal payback.

The government had promised to build the North Shore Road, between Bryson City and Fontana Dam, back in 1943.

Senator Tillis says this money can now be used for current improvements.

"I think there is a lot of opportunities overtime to increase the attraction of tourism, there may be an opportunity for infrastructure," he said. "So I think it's more important for the people of Swain County on how they spend it for the best economic purpose, education, any number of priorities here in the county."

Local officials have said the money will be put into a state account, with Swain County spending the interest earned.

They estimate that $2-3 million will be available each year, and will help keep property taxes low.