NCDOT explains tall grass along Lenoir County highways, upcoming mowing restrictions

Photos: From Facebook

Tall grass along some Lenoir County highways has drawn complaints from residents as students return to school and traffic increases near local campuses, but state transportation officials say new mowing restrictions and favorable growing conditions have contributed to the higher vegetation.

Residents have posted concerns on Facebook about grass height along highways, including N.C. 11 South near South Lenoir High School and U.S. 70. Some posts have raised concerns about visibility and safety for students, parents, school employees and other motorists as the 2026-27 school year begins.

Vann Sparrow, Division Roadside Environmental Engineer for the N.C. Department of Transportation's Division 2 Roadside Environmental Unit, said legislation passed last year has changed the department's mowing schedule.

Session Law 2025-47, also known as Senate Bill 391, prohibits NCDOT from scheduling mowing along highway rights of way during May and during periods when political signs are permitted along state-maintained roads.

"These moratoriums will also create taller vegetation and visual conditions that the traveling public is unaccustomed to along the highways," Sparrow said.

Sparrow said NCDOT did not request the mowing restrictions and recognizes that limiting mowing during certain times of the year could create safety concerns.

"NCDOT remains committed to maintaining the safety of the public and will perform limited mowing operations to address safety concerns, such as for sight distance or drainage issues along our highways," he said.

Lenoir County is scheduled for four mowing cycles this year, compared with the five cycles the county would normally receive before the new restrictions.

According to Sparrow, one cycle was completed before the May mowing moratorium. Two additional cycles are scheduled between the end of the May moratorium and Sept. 15. The final cycle is scheduled between Nov. 14 and Dec. 31.

Before the restrictions were enacted, NCDOT normally began mowing in Lenoir County in late April and completed five cycles by November.

Weather has also contributed to the growth.

Sparrow said recent rain combined with high temperatures has created ideal growing conditions for grass. Contractors have missed only a minimal amount of mowing time because of wet weather, he said.

Routine mowing will stop again Sept. 15 and remain suspended through Nov. 13 because of the period when political signs are permitted along state highway rights of way.

"We will likely see grass height comparable to what we are seeing now," Sparrow said. "The weather will also determine the conditions we experience. An abundance of rain and warm temperatures could contribute to taller than usual grass height during this time."

The moratorium does not prevent NCDOT from addressing specific safety problems. Sparrow said crews can mow areas as needed when vegetation creates sight-distance or other safety concerns.

Schools and high-volume roads are not given priority during normal mowing operations, Sparrow said, but those locations will receive additional consideration for safety and sight-distance concerns while the moratorium is in effect.

"We are committed to addressing any area that creates a safety concern for the travelling public," Sparrow said. "We will assess each complaint and take permissible corrective action to remedy the issue."

The upcoming moratorium runs through Nov. 13. NCDOT's fourth and final scheduled mowing cycle for Lenoir County is expected to take place between Nov. 14 and Dec. 31.

Sparrow asked motorists to use additional caution when traveling through areas where vegetation is higher than usual.

"It is our intent to get the grass cut as soon as possible while still adhering to the restrictions set forth in SB 391," he said.