Transportation
WidenI77 statement on Judge Smith ruling
“Judge Osmond Smith III denied our request to put a temporary halt to the I-77 toll project. We knew the odds were against us at this preliminary hearing because we were asking that the project be put on hold pending the actual trial. However, we are very optimistic that the court will find that the […]
Judge denies WidenI77 preliminary injunction
March 6. Judge Osmond Smith III denied a motion by the citizens group Widen I77 for a preliminary injunction to halt plans for toll lanes on I-77 from Lake Norman to Charlotte. “We are obviously disappointed, but respect the judge’s decision,” the group said on their website, wideni77.org. A preliminary injunction would have stopped the toll […]
Public Works out in full force working on roads
Feb. 17. Public Works employees are applying sand and brine to major streets this morning, after a winter mix encased Cornelius and environs in a half inch of ice. Town Manager Anthony Roberts says the Police Department is fully operational and that the DDI at I-77 is mostly slush. Officials are advising people to stay […]
Roundabout for 21 at Catawba among hoped-for projects
By Dave Vieser. Feb. 15. Even as the Widen I-77 anti-toll group takes the matter to court, the Lake Norman Transportation Commission (LNTC) has unveiled the first draft list of projects which could receive 100 percent funding from bonus allocation funds related to toll lanes. The list includes five projects in Cornelius totaling $42.7 million. The bonus […]
Left turn on red? Cornelius could lead the way
Feb. 9. Now that most of the construction at the Exit 28 DDI has been completed, attention turns to fine tuning its daily operation, which raises the possibility of changing state law to allow motorists to make a left turn on red. As things stand now, motorists seeking to turn left onto Catawba Ave from the […]
Cornelius gas prices under $2
Jan. 25. Gas prices around Cornelius dropped to less than $2 a gallon during the past couple of days, mirroring a nationwide trend. The lowest price we found was $1.98 at the Sunoco station on Catawba Avenue just east of I-77, adjacent to Smithville Park. For the first time since 2009, most of the U.S. […]
Let there be light: New I-77 bridge lighting is on
Jan. 22. The superstructure rising 38 feet above Catawba Avenue was lit up for the first time tonight. It is clearly visible from the exit ramps both northbound and southbound on I-77. The mast and cables, as well as the lighting, are part of $2 million worth of “aesthetic” improvements at the bridge. This portion […]
Anti-toll group hires attorney, will seek injunction to fight ‘Lexus Lanes’
By Dave Yochum The Widen I-77 anti- group is apparently ready to throw a serious legal road block in front of NCDOT plans to use toll lanes to widen I-77 between Charlotte and Lake Norman. At a news conference tomorrow, Widen I-77 will announce the name of the law firm that will file a preliminary injunction to […]
Part of I-485 will be named for H. Allen Tate Jr.
Jan. 15 The new stretch of Interstate 485 in Mecklenburg County will be named in honor of H. Allen Tate, Jr., founder of Allen Tate Co. Tate, who launched the company in 1957, has been a longtime proponent of transportation issues, serving as chair of the Charlotte Chamber’s Regional Roads Committee, the Toll Roads Solutions […]
I-77 bridge may reopen this afternoon
Jan. 10 The mast-and-cable superstructure is up on the bridge over I-77. Workers were on site all night and by 7 a.m they were tightening and adjusting the stainless steel cables, just like the rigging on a big sailboat. Workers said they expect to finish this afternoon, well ahead of schedule. The NC DOT said […]
