Sept. 7. Traffic challenges at the Exit 28 interchange in Cornelius are about to get even worse, at least temporarily. But the town says a planned construction project will ease congestion at the exit over the long haul.

Staring this Sunday, Sept. 11, the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin construction of an additional lane on the northbound on-ramp at I-77 Exit 28, the ramp that takes drivers north to the Mooresville area. The city says the project will help alleviate some of the eastbound queueing that backs up into the Torrence Chapel Road/West Catawba Avenue intersection.

Lake Norman Chrysler Dodge Jeep co-owner Robin Salzman said any additional roadwork and closures can affect the dealership in sales and service. “So our hope is that the weather cooperates and the crews can stay on schedule,” Salzman said.

The construction schedule is focused on nights and on the weekends:

• From 9 p.m. Sunday Sept. 11 through 6 a.m. Monday Sept. 12, the eastbound on-ramp lane will be closed.
• From 9 p.m. Saturday Sept. 24 through noon Sunday Sept. 25, the entire on-ramp will be closed and only one eastbound lane on the bridge will be open.
• From at 9 p.m. Monday Sept. 26, through 6 a.m. Tuesday Sept. 27,  the entire on-ramp will be closed and only one eastbound lane on the bridge will be open.

The Town of Cornelius says the project is scheduled to take approximately three weeks, but that schedule will depend on the weather.

The improvements were expected to happen this spring.

In essence, the middle eastbound lane will be re-designated as both a second left turning lane onto the interstate as well as for straight ahead traffic on Catawba Avenue, and a second lane will be added to the northbound entrance ramp onto I-77.

The work will be performed by crews from the state DOT, which did not offer an explanation as to why the project was delayed.