Construction at Potts Street and Main Street / Cornelius Today photo

Sept. 3. By Dave Vieser. Many readers have asked about the status of roundabout road projects under construction in town, so Cornelius Today reached out to the N.C. Department of Transportation for a progress report. Here’s what we learned:

Dual roundabouts near Exit 28 on Catawba Avenue – 38% complete

Two new roundabouts, one north and one south of Catawba Avenue, will ultimately eliminate several left-turn movements where Catawba and U.S. 21 intersect.

The contractor is focusing on switching traffic on U.S. 21 to a new alignment so the second stage of the project can begin. Crews are also working on waterline relocations.

In addition, crews are completing a detour route using Burton Lane so they can close Holiday Lane and begin grading for the roundabout at the end of Holiday Lane.

The contractor anticipates finishing these phases of the project sometime this fall, with overall completion expected in fall 2026.

Roundabouts at Potts Street and Main Street – 26% complete

The wet summer weather slowed progress on paving the new Potts Street alignment, which must be finished before traffic can be switched to the roundabout.

Once the roadway has dried long enough to be regraded, the contractor can close portions of Main Street to complete the required work. Waterline relocations are also underway.

DOT says it expects to have traffic switched to the new Potts Street alignment before the end of the year. Completion is anticipated in 2027.

Other projects

The Northcross Drive extension has an estimated completion date of 2027. The final step is the roundabout on Westmoreland Road. The project is 18% complete.

Construction on three planned roundabouts on Torrence Chapel Road — at Knox Road, Shops at Fresh Market and Liverpool Parkway — has not yet begun, though some minor utility work has been completed.