STEELE CREEK NEWS

Residents Learn about Highway Plans at Annual Meeting

(February 24, 2018) Stuart Basham (slbasham@ncdot.gov) presented an update on the highway projects in Steele Creek planned by the North Carolina Department of Tansporation (NCDOT) at the 2018 Steele Creek Residents Association Annual Meeting on February 22. Mr. Basham is Planning Engineer for Division 10, which includes Mecklenburg County and four other area counties.

He discussed three upcoming projects as well as others competinig for funding:

NC 160/Hamilton Road Intersection Improvements

Design is complete for this $1.5 million dollar project, which is consistent with the future widening of Highway 160 to four lanes with turn lanes and sidewalks. The Right Of Way has been acquired, and utilities are currently being moved. They expect to let the contract for construction in late March. Work will begin at the end of April, with completion by the end of September 2018.

This project should alleviate backups caused by traffic waiting to turn left onto Hamilton Rd, as well as eliminate the use of the southbound right turn lane as a straight through/passing on the right lane.

NC 160 Widening Project

This is a $60 million dollar, 6.85 mile long project that extends from I-485 down to the South Carolina state line. Highway 160 (Steele Creek Road) will be widened to four lanes with sidewalks, bike lanes, and turn lanes.

The environmental document is underway, and NCDOT is currently reviewing concept designs. Design activities will continue throughout this year, with Right Of Way plans being completed by June 2019. The contract should be let in June 2021.

The good news is that this project has been moving up steadily on the highway projects schedule, and it now includes the entire length of the highway from I-485 south to the state line. Previously the part south of Highway 49 had been scheduled for a later start. At the 2013 Residents Association meeting, planners said that widening Highway 160 wasn't on the lastest Long Range Transportation Plan, which went through 2035. So the project has moved up at least 14 years in the last 5 years.

The bad news is that construction will take about three and a half years. So plan on more traffic woes before relief is achieved.

Public meetings for the NC 160 widening project are likely next fall or winter.

Zoar Rd/Youngblood Road Roundabout

This project was just funded this past fall. Design activities will begin later this year, and NCDOT will begin Right Of Way acquisition in May 2019. They should let the contract for construction in May 2020. Construction should take about 3 to 4 months.

Projects currently competing for funding

The following projects in or near Steele Creek are currently being reviewed for possible funding. See the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan being developed by the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) for more information.

• I-485 Exit 1 (Hwy 49/S Tryon St) Interchange Improvements
• I-485 Exit 64 (Hwy 51/Pineville-Matthew Rd) Interchange Improvements In Pineville
• I-485 Express Lanes From I-77 to I-85
• I-485/I-85 Interchange Improvements In West Charlotte
• Widen NC 49 From I-485 To NC 160 to six lanes
• Widen NC 49 From I-485 To Arrowood Road to six lanes
• New Carowinds Blvd Extension From NC 49 west to NC 160
• Widen Westinghouse Blvd From NC 49 To Nations Ford Road to six lanes
• Add one lane westbound on I-85 From Sam Wilson Road To The Gaston County Line

See the presentation slides below, or cick here: North Carolina Department of Transportation Presentation, to view and download a PDF version of the presentation. Also see Highway Planning 101.