Transportation
West Catawba widening may be delayed 3 years
Oct. 11. By Dave Vieser. West Catawba widening from Jetton Road to Sam Furr may not be completed until 2029, delaying the completion of the $52 million project by another three years. It means motorists will continue to endure single-lane travel in each direction for another six to seven years. What happened? Right-of-way acquisitions and […]
Construction ahead: Where road work begins in 2022
Jan. 25. By Dave Vieser. First, the good news: Multiple road improvements are expected to begin in 2022—much of it involving relocating utilities. The bad news: Most of the projects will not be completed by year-end 2022 and the timeline may be extended even further if the NC Dept. of Transportation runs out of money. […]
Ruh-road: Appraiser shortage affects NCDOT acquisition of rights of way
Oct. 11. By Dave Vieser. As if the funding issues aren’t enough, a shortage of appraisers at the NC Dept of Transportation is playing havoc with the acquisition of property for major road projects such as the widening of West Catawba Avenue in Cornelius. “There is a national and state appraiser shortage,” said NCDOT spokesman […]
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 […]
