Transportation
Demonstration set for Friday
April 25. The anti-toll group Cornelius resident Kurt Naas founded, Widen I-77, is looking for more financial support to appeal a court decision this past winter that went in favor of the NCDOT/Cintra toll deal. Meanwhile, the citizen group group is planning another demonstration on the Exit 28 bridge Friday at 5:30 pm. Legal counsel […]
I-77 fiasco spurs talk about commuter rail; Gilroy, railroad still opposed; New study will cost $728,000
April 19. By Dave Vieser. It’s not dead yet. So says Davidson Mayor John Woods about the Red Line commuter rail project. Woods, who also serves as vice chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Council, discussed the project at the April meeting of the Lake Norman Regional Transportation Commission. “If there is a silver lining in all […]
Ramsey Creek beach opening may be delayed
April 19. By Dave Vieser. The long-awaited public beach at Ramsey Creek Park in Cornelius, which was scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend, may not open on time. Possible delays in realigning the Nantz Road-West Catawba Avenue intersection and installing a traffic signal are to blame. The beach, which is part of the Mecklenburg County […]
Troublesome rail crossing to be fixed. Norfolk Southern will do repairs per DOT
April 15. By Dave Vieser. A troublesome freight line crossing on Highway 115 in Cornelius will be repaired in the near future, according to NCDOT. The line, which brings rail cars in and out of the FXI Foam Plant, has been causing problems for both motorists and bicyclists due to large spaces between the rail […]
Transaction casts doubt on cost to cancel Cintra contract
The recently revealed purchase of a 39.9 percent share—for $25 million—of the I-77 widening project is casting doubt on Cintra/NCDOT’s estimates ranging from $100 million to $300 million. The math is pretty basic: If a 39.9 percent share of the contract is worth $25 million, then the fair market value would be $62.65 million. “Because […]
Banking on traffic: Billboard is talk of the town
April 6. An old-school billboard for a local bank is getting a lot of traction on the new virtual town square called Exit 28 Ridiculousness. The billboard for Cornelius-based Aquesta Bank is located on the northbound side of I-77 between Exits 23 and 25—where traffic comes to a virtual standstill most afternoons. And mornings. And evenings. […]
Tax increase may be on the horizon, as well as a bond referendum
March 28. By Dave Vieser. Cornelius commissioners are looking at the possibility of enacting a one cent tax increase in next year’s budget, primarily to accumulate the funds needed for burying utility lines along the West Catawba Ave corridor from Jetton Road to Sam Furr Road. Although the road itself is not due to be widened […]
Road ahead: More I-77 lane shifts
March 21. Motorists may have already seen the covered “lanes shift ahead” signs which I 77 Mobility Partner’s installed last week on the interstate north of Exit 28. It means that those dreaded shifts in the interstate lanes to allow construction crews more room to work will soon commence between Cornelius and Davidson, going across […]
Changes coming this spring at the DDI
March 12. By Dave Vieser. While there’s no news on fixing the sails and masts on the Exit 28 bridge, the middle eastbound lane will be re-designated as both a second left turning lane onto the interstate as well as for straight-ahead traffic going from West Catawba to Catawba Avenue. “Since the DDI opened we […]
Noise from toll lane zone still bothersome
March 11. By Dave Vieser. Well, it’s also an auditory nightmare for some people who live near I-77 as construction continues on the new toll lanes—regardless of whether the toll plan will be ditched by such forces as the Lake Norman Chamber and Widen I-77.org. Efforts by DOT/Cintra/I 77 Mobility Partners and its toll lane […]
