Sneak peek of CLT airport renovations + Worst gas spill in the state
TGIF! Hey, everyone. It’s KJ. CharlotteFive readers named Barcelona Burger & Beer Garden the best burger spot in the Charlotte area a couple months ago. So, two of our writers went to see if it lived up to the hype.
I’m not going to lie. I’m a little jealous of Lorenza Medley and Jonathan Alexander, who taste-tested four of Barcelona’s burgers. So what did they think? You can find out here.
Before you get your weekend on, here’s your news this Friday afternoon.
1. Sneak peek at more CLT airport renovations, including new underground tunnel
There’s new additions coming to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport’s terminal lobby, and they could come as soon as next week.
The five-year, $608 million project kicked off in 2019. When completed, it will add roughly 175,000 square feet to the terminal lobby and renovate another 191,000 square feet said Jack Christine, airport COO. Only the west side terminal expansion will open for now, providing an additional 90,000 square feet to an airport Christine said rapidly outgrew its original capacity. The east side expansion will open in 2023.
The terminal expansion is part of a grander $2.5 billion vision, “Destination CLT.”
Which other parts of the airport can you expect to change? Blake Douglas has the details.
2. Colonial Pipeline fuel spill near Charlotte was nearly twice as big as previously thought
A new estimate of Huntersville’s 2020 fuel leak says two million gallons of gasoline spilled from the wall of an underground pipeline.
It’s the worst-ever spill in North Carolina, top state environmental health officials said.
Colonial Pipeline Co. announced the revised estimate two weeks after a Mecklenburg County judge approved a $5 million settlement of a state lawsuit over the spill. The order required Colonial Pipeline to release an updated spill estimate. Crews have recovered 75% of the gasoline and will remain on site until the rest is drawn from recovery wells.
Joe Marusak has more.
3. He’s 16 with no license, but he drove Charlotte FC past one of the world’s best soccer clubs
When Brian Romero touched the pitch Wednesday night against Chelsea, everything changed.
Maybe it was the roar of over 50,000 people learning Romero was just 16. Or maybe it was because Romero was making his professional debut. But on his first touch nearing stoppage time, he got into the box and earned a penalty. Teammates swarmed him in the moment, realizing Charlotte FC had a shot to defeat one of the world’s best soccer clubs. After penalty kicks, they had done just that.
“I just got the ball in my feet,” Romero said. “I kept going with my left and then I’m like, ‘shoot it.’ There’s nothing to lose.”
The rising junior at Jay M. Robinson High School never saw the referee signal for the penalty. He just heard a chorus of cheers before piecing the scene together himself.
“Oh it’s a pen! It’s a pen!” he recounted dramatically. “Then I got so happy and excited.”
Varun Shankar has the full story.
4. Some stories to read heading into the weekend
His craving for a cigar led Charlotte man to Harris Teeter — and a Powerball prize
Fact check: Did NC Republicans introduce a bill making abortion punishable by death?
It’s election time, again, in Charlotte. Use these tips to avoid misinformation
NASCAR icon Richard Petty surprises customers at Hardee’s in NC, photos show
Charlotte hires outside review of CATS bus problems; oversight chair demands answers
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This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Sneak peek of CLT airport renovations + Worst gas spill in the state."