March 26. By Dave Vieser. It’s taken years of headaches, but finally a left-turn lane for eastbound traffic has been created at the Westmoreland Road/Highway 21 intersection. Motorists can thank Atrium Hospital for getting the added lane done, along with a complete resurfacing of the intersection, and the addition of new traffic signals.

The resurfacing was completed earlier this week and lane markings have also been added to aid motorists in navigating the new intersection design. It’s all part of the rezoning package approved by the Cornelius Town Board back on March 6, 2023, in conjunction with the construction of a new 282,000 square foot hospital.

The new turning lane is just one of several transportation improvements included with the rezoning which the hospital will fund. Some of the other improvements are as follows:

—Extend the dedicated right turn lane on eastbound Westmoreland Road to 250′

—Add 100′ of right turn lane on Statesville Road at existing Bailey Road intersection

—Extend the southbound left turn lane on Statesville Road at existing Bailey to 200′

—Add 100′ NB left turn lane on Statesville Road into hospital site.