STEELE CREEK NEWS
State
Releases Draft State Transportation Improvement Program
(January 31, 2019)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) released the
Draft 2020-2029
State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) on January 10. The STIP
identifies state transportation projects that will receive funding between
2020 and 2029. (See
Press Release.)
The STIP includes
five projects in Steele Creek. See
2020 Draft STIP List:
Highway 160 (Steele Creek Road)/Hamilton
Road Intersection.
The construction of upgrades to this intersection were expected to
be completed last year, but the relocation of utility poles took
nine months instead of two. When bids were requested in December
2018, no bids were submitted. Bids are again being requested, and
NCDOT hopes for reasonable bids by February 16. If so, the upgrades
could be completed by the end of summer. Total projected cost is
$1,690,000.
Plans call for left
and right turn lanes and left turn arrow signals in all four
directions.
Highway 160 (Steele
Creek Road) Widening
The construction for
the widening of
Highway 160 (Steele Creek Road) had been scheduled to begin in
fiscal year 2021 (beginning July 2020), but the Draft STIP now shows right-of-way
acquisition and utility relocation beginning in fiscal year 2021 and
construction delayed until fiscal year 2024 (beginning July 2023).
The major cause for the delay is a statewide funding problem.
Expenditures are outpacing revenues, and projects statewide have
been delayed. But the project would have been delayed for a year
anyway because of design issues. They considered a grade separation
(bridge) for the railroad tracks to pass over Highway 160, but since
there are only two trains a day, this will be a grade crossing.
NCDOT and Charlotte Department of Transportation engineers are
working on a design for the Highway 160 and Highway 49 (South Tryon
Street) intersection that will work efficiently.
Plans
call for Highway 160
to be widened to
four lanes with a grassy median, bike paths, and sidewalks from the
state line to Shopton Road West and to six lanes from Shopton Road
West to I-485. However, because of the delay, certain sections may
be further upgraded. Construction is expected to last for four years.
Total cost is projected to be $62,600,000.
Carowinds Boulevard Extension
An extension of Carowinds Boulevard will be constructed from South
Tryon Street at John Price Road, running around the north side of
the Crossings development, and connecting to Sam Neely Road. It will
be a two-lane divided highway. Plans call for right of way
acquisition and utility relocation to occur in fiscal years 2027 and
2028 and for construction to occur in fiscal years 2029 and later.
Funding for projects in the first five years of the STIP are considered secure (although
subject to delay). Since the Carowinds Boulevard extension is after
the first five years, it is subject to reprioritization. Total
projected cost is $19,200,000.
I-77 Widening
This project extends from the South Carolina state line to I-277/US
74 (Belk Freeway). Widen existing freeway to ten lanes by
constructing managed (toll) lanes, reconstruct I-77/I-277 (Belk
Freeway) interchange, and install ramp meters. Construction is
expected to begin in fiscal year 2028. Total projected cost is
$1,083,865,000.
I-485/NC 49 (South Tryon Street) Interchange
This interchange will be improved. Construction is expected to begin
after fiscal year 2029. Total projected cost is $41,100,000.
Click on the image below to view a detailed, revised schedule.
Public Comments
NCDOT is holding a
Public Comment period
until April 15, 2019 to seek input
on the Draft STIP. Use the NCDOT web page for
submitting comments, or comments may be made in person at the District 10
office in Albemarle (716 West Main Street, Albemarle, NC 28001).
However, you may submit comments now through early June when the final STIP is
expected to be approved to Division 10 Planning Engineer
Stuart Basham at
slbasham@ncdot.gov.
Transportation planners with the
Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning
Organization (CRTPO) and the NCDOT will be attending the 2019 Annual Meeting
of the Steele Creek Residents Association on February 28 at Kennedy
Middle School. The Meet & Mingle begins at 6:00, and presentations
(on the 2019 revaluation and planning for growth in Steele Creek)
will begin at 7:00,
To comment on this story, please visit the
Steele Creek Residents Association Facebook Page.
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