Transportation
How do you merge gradually in bumper-to-bumper traffic?
March 5. By Dave Vieser. Local officials kicked the tires on the I-77 exit scheme and pronounced the plan a clunker at the third meeting of I77’s Advisory Group. “It appears that the design calls for about a half mile of stacking space,” said County Commissioner Jim Puckett. “I can tell you from personal experience […]
Alphabet soup of agencies would review new I-77 plan
Feb. 15. By Dave Yochum. ANALYSIS. The second meeting of the I-77 Advisory Group got under way yesterday with former Chamber Chair Mike Russell announcing that there were emergency exits on either side of a packed meeting room. “Just don’t take 77,” Chamber CEO Bill Russell interjected. It was a touch of dark humor […]
Will the next meeting be open to the public?
Jan. 30. By Dave Vieser. While there’s still no word on where or when the next meeting of the I-77 Advisory Group will be held, local leaders are saying it needs to be open to the public. The advisory committee, which represents what may well be the last chance to fix the toll lane project, met […]
Plans for traffic circle at 21 and Catawba up in the air
Jan. 2. Plans for a new traffic circle/roundabout at Hwy. 21 and Catawba Avenue, which would handle most traffic generated by a new QT convenience store, are on hold while the DOT reconsiders its recommendation. When the town board approved the rezoning which would permit the project last spring, it was understood that the DOT’s preference […]
Cornelius Town Board members attend Davidson Town Board
Dec. 14. In a mutual show of respect and solidarity, all five members of the new Cornelius Town Board as well as Mayor Woody Washam attended the Davidson Town Board meeting Tuesday. It was the good kind of payback: Monday a week ago, all five members of the new Davidson Board of Commissioners attended the […]
Commuter rail or bus rapid transit? CATS paws at both
Oct. 19. By Dave Vieser. The Charlotte Area Transit System’s (CATS) fresh look at rapid transit opportunities in the North Mecklenburg corridor will include ideas for both rail and bus rapid transit, not just a commuter train. “The study is not limited to just rail,” said CATS spokeswoman Juliann Sheldon. “CATS will be exploring all […]
Not quite a border war, but Cornelius defends northern edge
Sept. 21. By Dave Vieser. The Cornelius Town Board will look into how to write a resolution in opposition to the Potts Street Development that straddles the Davidson town line near the YMCA. Although the Cornelius portion of the rezoning application from Crescent Communities for nine homes has been withdrawn, plans for a 295 unit complex […]
Growth drives traffic ahead of schedule on Hwy. 73
By Dave Vieser. When conversation in the Golden Crescent—the motorsports region from Lake Norman to Cabarrus—turns to traffic, I-77 is normally front and center. However, there’s another traffic corridor that is getting a significant amount of attention: Hwy. 73. A 35-mile stretch from Lincoln County on the west to Concord eastward is like a Main […]
It may not be popular, but the DDI is safer
By Dave Vieser. There has been a 58 percent reduction in accidents at the Exit 28 interchange in Cornelius since the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) opened in 2014. Our stats tend to mirror those from other parts of the country where the innovative interchange has been implemented. Cornelius was the first in the state. It’s […]
As complaints pile up, I-77 sub-contractor caused Friday’s gridlock
May 16. By Dave Vieser. Less than a month after loose steel reflectors became a critical safety issue in the I-77 construction zone, it turns out a dump truck being operated by a Cintra sub-contractor caused massive gridlock in Cornelius and on the interstate last Friday May 12. The accident happened around 12:30 am in […]
