North Charlotte bridge project disrupts businesses

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina transportation leaders said they’re pleased with progress on a $40-million bridge project along East Sugar Creek Road in north Charlotte, but drivers and business owners said they’re still suffering because of the construction.

The project will build a flyover bridge on East Sugar Creek Road that will span both lanes for freight and passenger trains, and also the CATS Blue Line light rail.

LINK: NCDOT bridge project

North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary, Nick Tennyson, headlined an event celebrating the progress on Monday, and called the project "important" because it will eliminate "one of the most dangerous intersections between rail and road traffic we have in the state."

The downside of the project is that it has cut off through-traffic on Sugar Creek Road just east of North Tryon Street.  

That continues to take a toll on drivers and local businesses, whose customers are having to make significant detours to find them.  

"Our business is down about one-third of what it normally is this time of year," Paula Davis said.

His family has run a transmission shop for 24 years, just a few yards from where NCDOT crews have shut down the road.

Engineers said they're doing their best to alert drivers and businesses to the detours by placing signs nearby.
 
"We want to disrupt traffic the least amount that we can," NCDOT Engineer, Jahmal Pullen, said. 

Some businesses have taken their own steps by paying for large signs, and even some billboards that say, "We are still open, despite the construction."

Michael Estramonte said they've been successful for helping customers of his chiropractic office near the construction site find his office.  

He said he's looking forward to the project being finished in early 2018. 

"We're looking forward to the end result, but it is an inconvenience in the short term," Estramonte said.

Cox Media Group