Transportation
Nightmare on W. Catawba?
UPDATED Oct. 4. By Dave Vieser. The long-awaited widening of West Catawba Avenue between Jetton Road and NC Highway 73 will ultimately bring a new four-lane divided highway to the very busy western Cornelius corridor. Getting there however may prove to be a real test of wills for drivers and pedestrians. The NC Dept. of […]
Why Lake Norman should support a transportation sale tax
GUEST OPINION. Last week Lake Norman Chamber CEO Bill Russell explained why the chamber is opposed to the proposed sales tax increase for transit in Mecklenburg County. Olee Joel Olsen, a business owner and member of the chamber, disagrees. Here’s why. Feb. 8. By Olee Joel Olsen. As the Lake Norman region grows, our traffic […]
I-77 Express will allow extended commercial vehicles starting Feb. 8
Feb. 5. I-77 Mobility Partners and the NC Dept. of Transportation will allow more types of vehicles into the I-77 Express lanes starting Feb. 8. Larger two-axle vehicles and vehicles pulling single axle trailers can begin using the express lanes. “Expanding the type of vehicle that can enter the toll lanes is an acknowledgment that […]
Bailey/NC 115 redo begins Jan. 18
Dec. 28. Construction of new turn lanes to improve the intersection of Bailey Road and Hwy. 115 begins in three weeks, on Monday, Jan. 18. It was originally slated to begin in early 2020. Town officials said during the first three to four weeks of the project, there should be no impact on the flow […]
Bumps ahead: Process to use HOV lanes requires planning or transponder
Oct. 15. By Dave Vieser. Even in a pandemic, the toll lanes which continue to haunt Lake Norman area politicians, also haunt local motorists. For example, motorists with three passengers or more traveling from Cornelius to Charlotte and seeking to use the toll lanes for free must navigate a rather difficult process while being clairvoyant. […]
Delays ahead: W. Catawba widening in the slow lane
Oct. 12. By Dave Vieser. The long-awaited widening of West Catawba Avenue from Jetton to Sam Furr will be delayed by at least four years. This, according to an eye-opening report issued this week by Deputy Town Manager Wayne Herron. The delays are being caused by massive cash flow problems at the NCDOT, complicated by […]
New road honoring late mayor opening soon
Aug. 7. By Dave Vieser. Nannie Potts Lane, a new 1/3 mile road designed to relieve traffic on Catawba Avenue east of I-77 in Cornelius should be open by Labor Day. Crews from Blythe Construction were putting the finishing paving touches on the road this week, along with the addition of a turning lane on […]
Dips in the road: More traffic when Phase Two gets under way
May 19. With Phase Two reopening right around the corner, so, too, will be speeding cars and distracted drivers. Any number of Cornelius roadways have been safer for kids and adults during Gov. Cooper’s stay-at-home order. David Rogers, founder of OurBikeGuide.com, says cyclists need to play a part in safe roadways and sidewalks when life […]
I-77 toll lanes: They’re watching
Feb. 26. I-77 Mobility Partners says crews are still installing an occupancy detection system on the I-77 toll lanes. The system will determine the number of persons in a vehicle and compare it to the setting on a vehicle’s transponder, so the proper tolls are charged. But drivers of pick-up trucks shouldn’t even think about […]
Toll lane project in slow lane
Oct. 12. By Dave Vieser. CINTRA, the Spanish based construction company overseeing the I-77 toll lane project, has asked the NCDOT for an extension to their required contract completion date. “I can confirm that extensions have been submitted and are under consideration at this time, but no decisions have yet been made,” spokeswoman Jen Thompson […]
