A big wedge of South Charlotte has been left hanging by the sudden decision by the NC Department of Transportation to postpone the closing of Weddington Road for a long-planned widening project.
The closure was set for yesterday. Temporary roadway signs blared the impending closure for days in advance. Robo calls went out to impacted neighborhoods over the weekend also touting the June 16th date. Months before, neighborhood associations along the heavily traveled yet still two-lane artery were told by NC DOT that the six-week closure was needed in order to install drainage pipe around Four Mile Creek and straighten out the intersection with Pleasant Plains Road. The intent was to make sure that the work was done well before the school started back up in August.
That is all up in the air now. A second robo call went out last night from the town of Matthews informing residents that the closure had been delayed due to unforeseen issues with Duke Power and Windstream utility lines. How that can be is unclear. Utility right-of-way issues and the need to move lines is one of the very first things determined in any urban construction. Or should be.
Except when NC DOT is in charge.
