Nighttime work is continuing on the NCDOT’s Exit 28 reconstruction project, and there’s plenty more to come, including several months of daytime lane closures beginning in June. To help answer questions about the work from residents and business owners, the Town of Cornelius and the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce will host a public meeting on April 24 at Town Hall including the DOT’s resident engineer.

The meeting begins at 7pm in the assembly room at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.

The “diverging diamond” design has cars crossing over to the opposite side of the Catawba Avenue bridge to make entering and exiting the highway flow more smoothly. BACKGROUND The DOT is rebuilding the I-77 overpass into what’s called a “diverging diamond interchange,” or DDI. Under the new design, the eastbound and westbound lanes of Catawba Avenue actually will cross over one another in a new traffic pattern that’s supposed to improve traffic flow and make entering and exiting the highway smoother. The Town of Cornelius is planning a simultaneous project to improve the appearance of the overpass, making it a “gateway” to town. Plans call for a nautical-themed design with decorative bridge abutments, 5-foot lanterns at four corners, a central pedestrian walkway on the bridge, and trees and other plantings. See more on the project on CorneliusNews.net under the “DDI” tag.

Blythe Construction, the DOT’s contractor, is currently moving earth to reconfigure the exits and on-ramps on I-77 at Catawba Avenue. Workers also have begun “hydro-demolition” to remove the old surface on the Exit 28 overpass, Assistant Town Manager Andrew Grant said Monday.

Most of the work is being done at night, Grant said, but this summer the $6.2 million project will require some daytime lane closures – more than town officials originally expected. And that’s likely to raise concerns among drivers and nearby businesses.

“Starting sometime in June, those daytime lane closures will begin,” Grant said. The daytime work could continue for four to five months.

The April 24 meeting will give residents and business owners a chance to learn more and ask questions about the project. A presentation will review the new traffic pattern, the project’s benefits, and the construction schedule, Grant said.

DOT resident engineer Ron Graham also will be there to answer questions.

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT

Here’s an announcement about the meeting from the Town of Cornelius on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.

The Town of Cornelius and Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce will hosting a public meeting on the Diverging Diamond Interchange at 7:00 pm, Thursday, April 24, 2014 in the Assembly Room of Cornelius Town Hall.

Everyone is invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation’s (NCDOT) conversion of Exit 28 from a Standard Diamond Interchange to a Diverging Diamond Interchange. A presentation will be provided that reviews the project, the new traffic pattern, and the construction schedule, which includes upcoming daytime lane closures. A question & answer session will be held at the end of the meeting. NCDOT Resident Engineer Ron Graham will be available during the meeting to respond to questions.

Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis will also be present and says, “The diverging diamond interchange will significantly improve the way our community travels. I encourage residents and business operators to attend this meeting, and learn more.”

For further information please contact Andrew Grant, Cornelius Asst. Town Manager, at 704-892-6031 ext. 172 or Bill Russell, Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce President at 704-892-1922.