Busy Elizabeth intersection shuts down for trolley line construction

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gold Line extension work will once again cause traffic problems starting Monday morning in Elizabeth, and it will last for about one month.

[Construction deadline delayed on heavily traveled bridge]

The intersection of 7th Street and Hawthorne Lane was shut down around 9 a.m. so crews can begin to install tracks for the train extension.

It is expected to reopen on Aug. 12.

Channel 9 saw some drivers get stuck in the barricades Monday morning, forcing them to turn around.

"I think I heard it's going to be closed for four to six weeks at least, and during that time, it’s going to be tough," said Henry Chang, the manager at the 7th Street Market.

Chang wants people to know the market will be open despite all this construction for the Gold Line.

Crews are working on the project because they're still waiting for steel girders to come in for the Hawthorne Street Bridge.

Earlier this year, Channel 9 reported a contractor working for CATS installed the wrong steel girders at the bridge over Independence Boulevard. The new steel girders won't be ready until the fall.

[LINK: TRAFFIC MAPS]

Nearby residents said it is a warning to other neighborhoods where the line could be extended, and one example of the problems with the project.

"We understand that a city like Charlotte is a progressive city, as a result, there's a number of projects that need to take place, but as residents and taxpayers, we expect those projects to be properly managed," resident Morgan Williams said. "This is an example of one that's not being properly managed."

Drivers can take North Caswell Road to 4th Street, which will connect back to Charlottetowne Avenue as an alternate route.

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Cox Media Group