After crews removed the barrels, one-by-one, cars trickled from Interstate 77 on and off the new Brawley School Road exit.
"I think it's great, especially for Mooresville because I've heard them say it's a problem and I know people on Brawley School Road who say it takes them 45 minutes to get to the interstate," said driver Teresa Redmond.
Drivers are stuck in traffic with anywhere from 7,800 to 31,900 vehicles that use the stretch each day.
It is a number that's expected to grow in the coming years.
Tiana Harris works at a Shell station off Highway 150, just one exit away. She said Highway 150 was often jammed by drivers using it as an alternate route before the new exit opened.
"Trying to dart out here noon and beyond, it's terrible. It's dangerous. I've seen so many accidents right here in this little intersection," Harris said.
The opening of exit 35 marks the end of five years of construction to widen I-77 to Lake Norman in effort to ease congestion. Several miles of Brawley School Road were widened from two to four lanes.
Engineers said the construction also improves safety and traffic flow. Sharp curves were removed. Sidewalk, lights and new signs were added.
Harris is glad the work is done and the exit is open, now she just wants people to use it.
"They got to know about it so they can use it, so it's like please take exit 35 and not 36," she said.
Engineers estimate between 9,200 and 44,700 vehicles will use that stretch of road by 2030.
The DOT said the new lights installed along the exit at I-77 will not have to be moved if the interstate is widened in that area.
"I think it's great, especially for Mooresville because I've heard them say it's a problem and I know people on Brawley School Road who say it takes them 45 minutes to get to the interstate," said driver Teresa Redmond.
Drivers are stuck in traffic with anywhere from 7,800 to 31,900 vehicles that use the stretch each day.
It is a number that's expected to grow in the coming years.
Tiana Harris works at a Shell station off Highway 150, just one exit away. She said Highway 150 was often jammed by drivers using it as an alternate route before the new exit opened.
"Trying to dart out here noon and beyond, it's terrible. It's dangerous. I've seen so many accidents right here in this little intersection," Harris said.
The opening of exit 35 marks the end of five years of construction to widen I-77 to Lake Norman in effort to ease congestion. Several miles of Brawley School Road were widened from two to four lanes.
Engineers said the construction also improves safety and traffic flow. Sharp curves were removed. Sidewalk, lights and new signs were added.
Harris is glad the work is done and the exit is open, now she just wants people to use it.
"They got to know about it so they can use it, so it's like please take exit 35 and not 36," she said.
Engineers estimate between 9,200 and 44,700 vehicles will use that stretch of road by 2030.
The DOT said the new lights installed along the exit at I-77 will not have to be moved if the interstate is widened in that area.
WSOC
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