June 21. By Dave Vieser. If you’ve sensed that traffic congestion on West Catawba Ave has been worse lately, you’re right. A combination of factors has added to the usual daytime traffic volume, highlighted by the lack of vehicle sensors at the Jetton Road intersection.
Here’s the scoop:
1. Traffic signal at Jetton Road: as reported in Cornelius Today, the traffic sensors for this signal had to be disconnected and/or replaced due to the rebuilding of Jetton Road Extension. This road work is now done, and the sensors have been replaced and should be working again, although recent observations suggest otherwise. We’ve especially noticed that the signal for vehicles turning left onto Jetton from northbound Catawba was short cycling, causing major backups onto Catawba. This signal is maintained by the DOT but we asked Town Assistant Manager Tyler Beardsley what the story was. “I will send this information to the DOT today and ask them to check the timing on that signal right away,” Beardsley said.
Tyler Beardsley
2. Construction: As motorists have noticed, work is well under way on several projects between Jetton and Westmoreland, and trucks are frequently delaying traffic as they await their chance to make turns into and out of the construction sites. This has added to delays.
3. Lack of left-turn lanes: There are very few left-turn lanes in this area, so when a motorist seeks to make a left turn where there is no turning lane, that can cause congestion too. A suggestion from the traffic experts: Plan trips that avoid left turns if you can. Long term solution: Widening of Catawba, which unfortunately is many years away.
Here is the real scoop: stop construction which brings in more people and their cars! Cornelius shoud be ashamed at the projects that have been approved! They say it brings in more tax dollars but one has to wonder why then do they continue to raise our taxes. I have lived in Cornelius 40 years and I must say that the area has become a very congested and sad place to live.
Posted by Peggy Hales | June 21, 2024, 12:29 pmHow about this suggestion – Road work to be done at night with less congestion of traffic!! Anyone else agree???
Posted by Fed Up | June 21, 2024, 1:32 pmThank You!! Stupidly organized. Night time!!!
Posted by JW | June 21, 2024, 2:07 pmAGREE
I also think that all of the ridiculous construction, or should I say DESTRUCTION, should have been postponed until the roads were done.
Instead, all the trees were cut down, dust is terrible, animals have no place to go, and there is no road traffic capability.
But our WEAK past town officials who passed all of this have the philosophy of BUILD NO MATTER WHAT. “Roads, what roads? We will deal with that later.”
And then we have to hear about “climate change.”
When all of nature is destroyed and asphalt and concrete is put in its place, YOU WILL GET WARMER TEMPERATURES.
Cornelius has no beauty now. It is SAD.
Posted by DD | June 21, 2024, 3:06 pmThere are problems with traffic lights other than just Jetton. Catawba and Vance and Catawba and Westmoreland both work poorly. Not sure what the fix would be, maybe staying green20 seconds longer on each changing. The Nance Rd backs Catawba up past Jetton and past Edinburgh Sq the other direction and the Westmoreland backs up north bound Catawba even when there is not stopped traffic beyond the light. And definitely lengthening the right turn lane on Westmoreland would halp now.
Posted by John | June 21, 2024, 2:30 pmNorthcross Drive on Sam Furr has been a mess since I have been here for 3 years. Not sure how they don’t know how to make a simple fix on timing of lights.
Posted by BW | June 21, 2024, 3:31 pmOk lived here since 93. Where is North Catawba. Catawba I know (east of the bridge) and West Catawba, well it’s west of the bridge till you hit 73.
Posted by Jason | June 23, 2024, 9:09 amThe intersection of Catawba at One Norman is horrendous. Since the shopping center went in the Chic Fil A customers who want to go North on Catawba jam up the lanes on Knox Rd and One Norman. Most make the left turn onto Catawba which is slow since they have no idea which cars coming from the other direction are going to turn and which will head across Catawba. We need a dedicated right turn only lane and signal from that direction. The cars heading straight across should be in the lane turning left, not the lane turning right.
Posted by LH | June 21, 2024, 4:07 pmBailey road and 21 is a terrible intersection.
Posted by Darryl Scott | June 21, 2024, 7:38 pmI still love Cornelius!
Posted by David Dunn | June 21, 2024, 8:08 pmNorthbound 21 between Lowes up to Westmoreland also has become a problem. Again, the left turn light is too short at Tenders and the construction causes issues. Used to be these 2 parallel roads bottlenecked when 77 was blocked but now, I think some of it is avoiding Sam Furr from Catawba to 21. That road is also mess of congestion. Scared to see what happens when all these construction sites open. The South has been discovered as a great place to live. Too bad for us natives.
Posted by VF | June 22, 2024, 6:33 pmDid Jake ever get the bus to do his independent study and prove to us all that traffic on Catawba Ave is a non-issue?
Posted by Sarah Smith | June 23, 2024, 8:42 pm