Feb. 4. By Dave Vieser. Cornelius Mayor Woody Washam has written to NCDOT Secretary Eric Boyette seeking reversal of a one year delay in completing improvements at the intersection of Hickory Street and Hwy. 115, now scheduled for 2014. In the letter sent Feb. 3, Washam explained that the town was not happy with the […]
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 […]
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 […]
Sept. 27. By Dave Vieser. First, we learned that improvements at the Bailey Road/Hwy. 115 intersection would not be done in time for the opening of school due to an NCDOT snafu. Now, further unrelated delays may push the project’s completion into November. The problem was revealed at a Cornelius Town Board meeting by Assistant […]
July 22. By Dave Yochum. When a dump truck with its bed still in the raised position struck a traffic light at West Catawba and Jetton Road last year, it was a moment in Cornelius transportation history. The big Kenworth driven by a Concord man bent the mast or pole that holds up the arm […]
July 20. By Dave Vieser. Improvements at the Bailey Road/Hwy. 115 intersection will not be done in time for the opening of school due to an NCDOT snafu. The problem was revealed at Monday’s July 19 Cornelius Town Board meeting by Assistant Town Manager Tyler Beardsley, as the town staff was presenting a transportation project […]
July 19. By Dave Vieser. When Deputy Town Manager Wayne Herron recently disclosed that the DOT’s construction and widening of West Catawba Avenue—a crucial project for the west half of Cornelius—would not even begin until 2025, questions were raised as to whether local municipalities have any alternate ability to fund such projects, especially in view […]
July 12. By Dave Vieser. While NCDOT has installed a new right-turn signal at the busy Westmoreland Road/Hwy. 21 intersection, it may be a decade before the intersection is completely renovated along with the widening of Hwy. 21. The Hwy. 21 widening project has been dropped from the NCDOT’s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, according to […]
June 15. By Dave Vieser. It looks like the $50 million widening of West Catawba Avenue from Jetton Road to Sam Furr Road will not be completed until 2027. Indeed, construction is still several years away from starting. Deputy Town Manager Wayne Herron provided an update on local road improvements at Monday’s Planning Board meeting. […]
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 […]