N.C. DOT Adapts Intersection To Match Residential Growth

Growth across the Charlotte area has led to more traffic on smaller, two-lane roads and more accidents at crowded intersections like the intersection of Poplar Tent Road at Highway 73 between Huntersville and Concord.

Tricia Cohen has to drive through the intersection several times every day.

"It could take you 20 to 25 minutes in the morning to get out onto 73 from Poplar Tent," she said.

"They can't get out to turn?" asked reporter Jamie Bowers.

"Oh no. I'm one of the nice people. I get in trouble most of the time, because I stop and let all the traffic turn on through there," said Cohen.

Traffic backups aren't the only problem. Since Highway 73 is the main route between Huntersville and Concord, all that new traffic has led to some serious safety problems.

At the intersection of Highway 73 and Poplar Tent Road, Poplar Tent hits 73 near a curve and at the bottom of a hill. In that position, it is hard for drivers trying to turn left to see if it's safe to pull out.

The most recent police statistics show a 31-percent increase in accidents at this intersection in just one year.

The state has designated the intersection as a high-hazard intersection and freed up $500,000 from a special fund to fix dangerous roads.

Department of Transportation Engineer Marc Morgan and his team are using that money to fix the Poplar Tent/Highway 73 problem by eliminating the old intersection altogether.

"Basically, what we did was relocate the intersection to the crest of the hill, so you have total sight distance in both directions," said Morgan.

At the same time, a developer is paying to relocate Shiloh Church Road. It will meet up with the new location of Poplar Tent and create a standard four-way intersection with Highway 73.

The state will add left turn lanes and a stoplight, which is what Cohen is looking forward to.

"I'll be glad when the light actually gets up. I think the light will be a big improvement. It'll make it fair for everybody who needs to turn," she said.

With more growth on the way, Highway 73 will need major improvements in the future. But for now, the state hopes the small project will lead to a big drop-off in accidents and in rush hour backups.

The new intersection should open in the next two weeks, but even bigger changes are coming to the area over the next few years.

Plans were approved for 4,000 new residences within a half-mile of the intersection, and construction will start soon on the first phase of a new shopping center with a grocery store, restaurants, and medical offices.