NC congressman secures millions of dollars for planned I-77 Lake Norman exit
U.S. Rep. Tim Moore has secured $4.7 million in federal funding for a planned Interstate 77 interchange at Westmoreland Road in Cornelius, town officials said Thursday.
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUILD grant program, short for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development, officials said in a news release.
In a statement, Moore called the planned exit “critical to improving traffic flow, expanding access to essential services, and supporting continued economic growth throughout the region.
“This investment will provide local leaders with the tools they need to develop the best long-term solution,” Moore said.
Cornelius has one other I-77 interchange, the French-invented diverging diamond layout at West Catawba Avenue Exit 28.
The grant will pay for the project’s planning and design phase.
The town has a preliminary agreement with Atrium Health to fund 50% of the grant application and grant match, officials said. The town, Atrium and North Carolina Department of Transportation are scheduled to meet this month to discuss how each might provide money for Exit 27.
Cornelius Mayor Denis Bilodeau said in a news release he appreciated Moore securing the grant, which he called “a tremendous step forward towards our town’s much-needed additional highway exit.”