Local

Section of NC 51 in Matthews closed over weekend

MATTHEWS, N.C. — A major road in Mecklenburg County near a hospital is closed in both directions.

N.C. Highway 51 near Novant Health is shut down until 6 a.m. Monday.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is paving, installing a new curb and gutter, as well as redoing lane markings and pavement markers.

Business owners in the area aren't happy about the inconvenience or the little notice they were given.

The owner of Premier Plastic Surgery Center, Victor Ferrari, said it's going to affect where he sees emergency patients this weekend.

But he also said the roads could use the improvements.

"In the winter, water runs down from that side of the road towards us and there's a big sheet of black ice every winter when it freezes," Ferrari said. "And there have been a lot of accidents on this road because of that."

Gutter improvements should help with the ice problem.

Expect heavy traffic on side roads, now that people have to avoid this area.

See the latest about traffic around Charlotte on our traffic page.

See the latest about traffic around Charlotte on our traffic page.