Congestion Mitigation Program

Program Overview

Charlotte’s growing population puts added stress on the city’s transportation network in the form of congestion. This new program is intended to help mitigate congestion and improve traffic flow in targeted areas through small-scale, quick infrastructure projects. Projects could include adding turn lanes at intersections, extending existing lanes, or making new road connections to enhance the street grid. Initial funding is dedicated to projects in the Steele Creek, South Charlotte, and University City areas.

Program Updates

Sharon Road at Eastburn Drive Improvements (Feb. 3, 2023) - This project is in the design, and design is approximately 75% complete. During the design phase, the project team creates the detailed information needed to construct the improvement option that was selected during the planning phase. Details include plans, specifications, etc.

Steele Creek Road (Dec. 8, 2023) - Design for Steele Creek at Sam Neely Road is approximately 100% complete and real estate acquisition has started. During this phase, the city acquires the property rights needed to build and maintain the improvements identified during the design phase. City real estate agents will reach out to affected property owners with information about the acquisition process. 

Design is complete and utility relocation has started for Steele Creek and Shopton Road West. During this phase, utility infrastructure, such as underground gas, water and sewer lines, as well as overhead power, telephone and television lines, are moved as needed to make way for construction for the project improvements. 

 

Program Funding

  • $6,700,000 in previously-approved Short-Term Road Congestion funding 
  • $7,612,000 in voter-approved 2020 Transportation Bonds

Current Projects

Kuykendall Road Improvements

Status: Design

Project Cost: $4.6 million

Project Contacts

Chris Manno, Project Manager
General Services
980.408.0281
chris.manno@charlottenc.gov

 

Erin Pratt, P.E., Senior Engineer
Charlotte Department of Transportation
980.240.3165
Erin.Pratt@CharlotteNC.gov

 

Project Overview

This project will add new sidewalk along the west side of Kuykendall Road from Thorn Blade Drive to McKee Road where there is no existing sidewalk. It will also add a right turn lane on Kuykendell Road to McKee Road.

Project Goals

  • To increase connectivity

  • To improve pedestrian safety

  • To alleviate traffic congestion at the intersection of Kuykendall Road and McKee Road

Public nvolvement

With direction from Charlotte City Council, project teams seek input from the community in order to build better projects and provide better services. Often, this input comes from the public involvement process used when building capital projects. Neighborhood public meetings are conducted by project teams and consultants in order to solicit ideas from nearby businesses and residents affected by the project and identify their concerns. Upcoming meetings will be posted on the project web page, and affected residents will receive a postcard in the mail.

 

 

Sharon Road at Eastburn Drive Improvements

Status: Design

Project Cost: $3.5 million

Project Contacts

Valerie Hanes, Engineering Project Manager
General Services
980.214.7624
valerie.hanes@charlottenc.gov
 
Corey Watt, Senior Engineer
Charlotte Department of Transportation
980.229.8378
Corey.Watt@charlottenc.gov

 

Project Overview

This project is located on Sharon Road at Eastburn Road. The project includes adding a left-turn lane from Sharon Road on to Eastburn Road and removing the superelevation.

Project Goals

To improve vehicular safety and mobility

Public Involvement

With direction from Charlotte City Council, project teams seek input from the community in order to build better projects and provide better services. Often, this input comes from the public involvement process used when building capital projects. Neighborhood public meetings are conducted by project teams and consultants in order to solicit ideas from nearby businesses and residents affected by the project and identify their concerns. Upcoming meetings will be posted on the project web page, and affected residents will receive a postcard in the mail.

A satellite image of the project area with black lines superimposed to illustrate the project improvements

An illustration of a map showing the location of the project

 

 

 

Steele Creek Road

Projects

  • Steele Creek Road at Shopton Road West Intersection (Project Cost: $800,000)
  • Steele Creek Road at Sam Neely Road Intersection (Project Cost: $770,000)

Status: Design and Real Estate Acquisition

Project Contacts

Brooke England, P.E.
Project Manager
General Services
704.534.8150
brooke.england@charlottenc.gov

Paul Benton, PE
Project Manager
Charlotte Department of Transportation
980.257.9844
Paul.Benton@charlottenc.gov
 

Project Overview

The City of Charlotte implemented these two congestion mitigation projects to alleviate congestion at the intersections of Steele Creek Road/Shopton Road West and Steele Creek Road/Sam Neely Road in the interim of North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) NC160 Widening project. The City of Charlotte recognized the opportunity to design a low-budget concept to allow the projects to get on the ground faster and reduce traffic congestion for residents and commuters in the area. These two projects are not part of NCDOT’s NC160 project, and NCDOT will build upon these two projects when the NC160 project plans to hit ground in 2027.

A right turn lane will be added at the intersection of Steele Creek Road and Sam Neely Road. An additional northbound thru lane will be added at the intersection of Shopton Road West and Steele Creek Road, and a new left turn lane will be installed at Riverdale Drive and Steele Creek Road.

Project Goals

To improve safety and reduce congestion at key intersections along Steele Creek Road

Public Involvement

The project team will keep residents and other stakeholders informed of project progress through mailings and website updates. 

 

 

 

Program Map

A map of high-congestion intersections, indicated by red dots, and yellow boxes, indicating targeted capacity investment areas. The boxes are located in University City, Steele Creek and South Charlotte.

Charlotte MOVES Task Force

In coordination with the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the City of Charlotte is preparing the Charlotte MOVES Strategic Mobility Plan to guide the future of transportation and mobility in Charlotte. The City is committed to providing safe and equitable mobility options for all travelers regardless of age, income, ability, race, where they live, or how they choose to travel. Charlotte MOVES is a major effort that will update and consolidate all of the City’s existing transportation plans under one cover and set a vision for the future of mobility in Charlotte.

 

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