Charlotte traffic can be a nightmare. Here are some places where that could change.
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Can Charlotte escape traffic hell?
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Traffic in Charlotte can be a nightmare, and biking or walking can’t be done safely on every road. Whether on Independence Boulevard at rush hour or at busy intersections citywide, commuters know plenty of areas they’d prefer to avoid.
Local and state transportation leaders, though, are planning some big improvements.
Readers can review a list of 250 projects, provided by the city at the request of The Charlotte Observer. Below are seven of those projects, highlighted for their potential to improve getting around town. The city’s descriptions have been edited for length and clarity.
Adding express lanes
Independence Boulevard (US 74)
This project, which starts in 2022, will widen Independence Boulevard and add an additional general purpose lane in each direction. The new version of Independence will include three general purpose lanes, one express lane in each direction, and one auxiliary lane in each direction from west of Idlewild Road in Charlotte to Interstate 485 in Matthews.
Budget: $905-958 million
Estimated completion: To be determined, according to the NC Department of Transportation.
New plaza
Five Points
The city wants to improve the intersection of West Trade, State Street, Fifth Street and Beatties Ford Road. Those include a new public plaza or vistas, landscaping, pedestrian lighting, wide sidewalks, crosswalks, artwork or University-themed graphics.
Budget: $5.5 million
Estimated completion: Grand opening in 2022.
New roundabout
Tuckaseegee Road/Berryhill Road/Thrift Road
This project will replace the traffic signal at the existing five-leg intersection with a roundabout. There will also be improvements to the crosswalks, as well as new sidewalks, bicycle accommodations, planting strips and landscaping.
Cost: Nearly $5.7 million
Estimated completion: Mid-2022
Greenway addition
Cross-Charlotte Trail
The trail will be more than 30 miles long when it is completed. The greenway will stretch from Pineville through uptown and on to the UNC Charlotte campus and Cabarrus County line.
An estimate by the city of Charlotte says “approximately 140,000 residents and 130,000 jobs will be within walking distance of the proposed trail and the adjacent greenways that connect to it.”
Some stages are complete, but the trail has a long way to go. People can look forward to the section between North Davidson Street to Matheson Avenue, which is expected to be completed in mid-2022.
Another section between Brandywine Road and Tyvola Road is expected to be completed in fall 2022.
Budget: At least $92 million
Estimated completion: For the entire trail, it’s unclear. But the two sections above should be completed by summer and fall 2022.
Safer crossing
Tryon Street at Nations Ford Road and Yorkmont Road
The installation of crosswalks, pedestrian crossing signals, ramps and other items should help pedestrians safely navigate this busy intersection.
Budget: $1 million
Estimated completion: Early 2023
Intersection improvements
Barringer Drive and West Boulevard
New accessible ramps, crosswalks and pedestrian signals are on the way, as well as a median on West Boulevard west of the intersection.
Budget: Nearly $1.4 million
Estimated completion: Mid-2025
New sidewalks
JW Clay Blvd.
New sidewalks and bike lanes will be added by widening certain areas of J.W. Clay Boulevard. There will also be sidewalks on the south and east sides of the road from W.T. Harris Boulevard to North Tryon Street.
Budget: $12.9 million
Estimated completion: Early 2025
This story was originally published December 19, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
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