Transportation
NCDOT to hold public meeting on proposed widening of West Catawba Avenue
June 2. The N. C. Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting regarding the proposed project to widen West Catawba Avenue (S.R. 5544) from just north of Sam Furr Road (N.C. 73) to Jetton Road (S.R. 2151) in Mecklenburg County. The purpose of the meeting is to inform citizens of Cornelius and Huntersville of the proposed improvements and […]
Toll cancellation bill debate in Capitol today
June 2. By Dave Vieser. House Bill 954, which calls for the cancellation of the I-77 toll lane project, passed the State House Transportation and Appropriations Committees by a verbal vote on Wednesday, and will now move on to the full House for debate this morning. However, the bill was advanced “without prejudice,” as opposed […]
Stop signs may stop cut-through traffic
May 26. A beautiful new neighborhood with a back-door connection to Birkdale has become a cut-through for anyone and everyone interested in shopping. The Town of Cornelius will erect stop signs. Jeanne and Lin Snowa said cut-through drivers are speeding and running through stop signs to and from Birkdale in spite of “kids on the […]
I-77 toll lanes need Marine Commission approval
May 26. By Dave Vieser. In yet another twist in the ongoing I-77 toll lane saga, it turns out that the project needed the approval of the Lake Norman Marine Commission before it started. The commission’s approval is needed because it crosses Lake Norman north of Exit 28. The DOT has asked to be on […]
Rail crossing on NC 115 to be repaired June 14
May 18. By Dave Vieser. A troublesome rail crossing on Hwy. 115 just north of Bailey Road will be repaired on Tuesday June 14. The road will be closed from 9 am to 4 pmwhile crews from Norfolk Southern and NCDOT complete the work. Temporary detours will be set up for motorists. The line, which brings rail cars […]
Commissioner Puckett: Declaring independence from tolls
May 20,1775 is when Mecklenburg County founders declared their independence from King George, more than a year before the rest of the Colonies. In that same spirit of feistiness, we asked Mecklenburg County Commissioner Jim Puckett, two of whose ancestors signed the document, to put his thoughts about I-77 in writing on the eve of […]
Cornelius commissioners vote 5-0 to cancel toll lanes with HB-954
May 17. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Town Board voted 5-0 to support HB-954, the bill sponsored by NC Reps. Charlie Jeter and John Bradford that would cancel the 50-year contract with Cintra to widen I-77 with toll lanes. Similar support has been expressed by other towns in the Lake Norman area, including Huntersville, and anti-toll […]
Town staff calls for 8.3% tax hike; public hearing May 16
May 3. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius town manager has proposed a $21.88 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 that calls for a 2-cent tax increase to 26 cents. If the 8.3 percent tax increase is approved by the Town Board, it would cost the owner of the average $250,000 home in Cornelius about $50 […]
Anti-toll forces gain speed in I-77 battle
April 29. UPDATED 5:45. By Dave Yochum. Growing bipartisan support, underscored by a bill introduced this week by NC Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Democrat from Matthews, is giving renewed strength to efforts to stop the Interstate 77 toll lane project. Meanwhile, anti-toll forces gathered on the I-77 bridge at Exit 28 in Cornelius for a […]
Anti-toll demonstration at 5:30 pm spans parties, communities
April 29. By Dave Yochum. Growing bipartisan support, underscored by a bill introduced this week by NC Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Democrat from Matthews, is giving renewed strength to efforts to stop the Interstate 77 toll lane project. Meanwhile, anti-toll forces will be gathering on the I-77 bridge at Exit 28 in Cornelius for a […]
