NC 49 Road Widening in Mecklenburg County

Description

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will widen NC 49 as well as realign Back Creek Church Road. This joint project between the NCDOT and City of Charlotte’s Department of Transportation also consists of forming a new intersection at Mallard Creek Church Road. These changes could radically change how traffic flows in ways that current property owners may find alarming.

NC 49 will widen 1.2 miles of the highway to six lanes between John Kirk Drive and I-485. The project also includes a design called the Reduced Conflict Intersection (RCI), meant to reduce vehicle collisions. RCI in this project entails raising and extending the median to improve safety of drivers and pedestrians. With the RCI design, left turns onto N.C. 49 will not be permitted in the affected area.

The project also consists of creating a modified intersection with quadrant roadways at the current intersection of East Mallard Creek Church Road and NC 49. With the new intersection at Mallard Creek Church road, the existing intersection between NC 49 and Back Creek Church Road will be closed, and the railroad crossing on Back Creek Church Road will be eliminated.

The project has the objectives of reducing traffic congestion, improving traffic flow, and enhancing the traffic operations on NC 49. The NCDOT has also mentioned bicycle amenities and sidewalks as additional elements of the construction.

However, the widening of the current 4-lane highway to 6 lanes is projected to heavily disturb the property surrounding the 1.2 mile length of N.C. 49. This may force property owners or residents to relocate. If you or anyone around you is negatively affected by the NCDOT’s project in Mecklenburg County, we urge you to contact the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm.