Map shows location of proposed connection between Floral Lane and US 21.
By JONATHAN COX
CorneliusNews.net
Commissioners on Monday continued their discussion of how to allocate bond money for road projects. Town Manager Anthony Roberts presented recommendations for multiple intersection improvements and street extensions. Floral Lane residents were there to protest the town’s proposal to connect Floral Lane to US21/Statesville Road, citing concerns that the extension would send heavy traffic from US21 through their quiet residential neighborhood.
At Monday’s meeting the town also discussed the NCDOT’s plan to widen Torrence Chapel Road, where work is slated to begin as early as the beginning of September. Commissioners also considered proposals to resurface or add sidewalks to several roads in the area, and unanimously approved the purchase of four new police cars. Read on for details.
Engineering firm Parsons Brinkerhoff presented the relative merits of several possible road projects in July’s town board meeting. At Monday’s meeting, Town Manager Anthony Roberts built on this analysis to present his own recommendations for road construction projects.
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Proposed Road Projects The Town Manager’s recommendations for road construction projects will be under scrutiny in the coming weeks as the town decides which projects to fund.
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The projects range from relatively minor intersection improvements to road extensions and an ambitious plan to construct a roundabout at the busy intersection of Catawba Avenue and US21/Statesville Road.
One proposal in particular – the Floral Lane extension – has raised the hackles of several residents. Residents of the neighborhood, which lies just east of US 21/Statesville Road, worry that the extension would route heavy traffic through their peaceful residential area.
“I think anyone who’s lived on a quiet neighborhood street would be concerned at the idea of it opening up to be a public thoroughfare,” resident Joe Hollingsworth said.
Residents were also concerned that road construction could endanger the greenway and wetlands at the end of Floral Lane, and that the increased traffic could put Cornelius Elementary students at risk as they head to school in the early morning or back home later in the evening.
Floral Lane resident Jack Bradford expressed his frustration with the town’s plan: “You’re moving [US21/Statesville Rd]‘s problem with that intersection over to Floral Lane. I don’t even have words for it.”
Responding to these concerns, Commissioner John Bradford said that the Floral Lane extension would not necessarily be part of the final bonds package. “Whether or not Floral Lane becomes part of this bond package is up for debate,” he said.
TIGHT DEADLINE
Town Manager Anthony Roberts said that for the town to let the bonds in January, the commissioners will have to decide which projects to fund by the first meeting in September. He cautioned against making a premature decision, however, emphasizing that it is still possible to delay the bonds until later in 2015.
Mayor Chuck Travis said with the town’s traffic flow in dire need of improvement, the board should not delay any more than necessary in choosing which projects to fund. “Getting approval for these bonds is a significant accomplishment for our town,” he said, “and our responsibility as a board is to make the right decisions and move on it.”
The town will continue its ongoing discussion of how to allocate bond money and will open the floor to public concerns at the next meeting.
TORRENCE CHAPEL WIDENING
Also mentioned at Monday’s meeting was the NCDOT’s plan to widen Torrence Chapel Road by two feet on each side. At just 16 feet across, Torrence Chapel is relatively narrow. The proposed widening will bring it to a standard width of 20 feet across, from John Gamble Road to Senlac Lane.
Work on the project is scheduled to begin in early- to mid-September, and will be funded by the NCDOT. Town officials are unsure how long the project will take.
PAVEMENT ANALYSIS
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ROADS TO BE REPAVED The Town Manager proposed that the following roads be resurfaced using funds from the Powell Bill.:
SIDEWALKS The Town is also considering investing in sidewalks at the following locations:
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The town conducts a pavement analysis every five years, in an effort to identify roads in the area that are in need of resurfacing. This year the town manager identified 12 roads in need of repaving, as well as four roads that need to have sidewalks installed.
The cost of the repaving and sidewalk construction would come to a total of $1,059,872, within the $1,100,000 budgeted for these projects. The projects are currently pending approval from the Town Board, though Roberts said the town would like to begin construction before the winter.
Commissioners said some of the proposed sidewalk construction might be problematic.
Commissioner Woody Washam addressed the issue of Torrence Chapel Road, noting that widening the road and adding sidewalks might crowd the properties on either side of the busy thoroughfare.
“We’ve got to get feedback on Torrence Chapel,” he said. “This is going to cram the sidewalks right into these people’s front doors.”
The town will continue to discuss the proposed construction projects at its next meeting on Aug. 18.
Mayor Chuck Travis received a check for $1,000 from Park Avenue Properties for the Cornelius Animal Shelter. The check was presented by advertising coordinator Johane Hirschfield (left).
