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Overview
The NC 73 Corridor is one of two east-west highways serving the rapidly growing area around
Lake Norman, in the North Carolina Piedmont. It functions as a two-lane corridor approximately
20 miles north of Charlotte, that extends for 35 miles from US 321 in Lincoln County, to I-85
in Cabarrus County. Although much of the development surrounding the corridor remains
scattered among rural settings, significant development and suburban growth is occurring
along the corridor. The corridor traverses eight different governmental jurisdictions.
Increased traffic and uncoordinated land use patterns have created significant transportation
and land use issues for residents and property owners within
Cabarrus,
Lincoln, and
Mecklenburg Counties.
A systematic plan is therefore necessary in controlling traffic volumes and access management,
minimizing impacts to homes and businesses along the corridor, and most importantly, preserving
the vitality of the roadway. As such, the three participating counties and five municipalities (
Concord,
Cornelius,
Davidson,
Huntersville, and
Kannapolis),
have teamed with regional
planners, business organizations, consultants, and NCDOT to design a comprehensive transportation
and land use plan that will exemplify the character of each individual community, while also
fusing the entire corridor.
Goals
To design a comprehensive land use, urban design, and transportation plan that incorporates
existing and anticipated land use and transportation patterns for the eight local governments
along the corridor. Most importantly, the plan will be tailored to meet the needs and demands
of individual communities, while also promoting cohesion along the entire corridor. Issues that
will be addressed in the study include: future land use projections, needed roadway improvements
on NC 73 and adjoining roads, right of way preservation, access management techniques, and land
use buffers.
Objectives
- To support local land use and transportation plans
- To promote functional access management tools along
the roadway
- To improve and preserve the function of the roadway
while supporting economic development along the corridor
- To develop a comprehensive transportation plan that
serves existing and projected future land uses along
the corridor
Outcome
The key outcome of the NC 73 Corridor study is to have all participating communities and elected
officials adopt the Memorandum of Understanding indicating their intent to follow the plan's land
use and transportation recommendations. NCDOT will then follow the strategic plan for the
roadway so that roadway development over time will be coordinated with each community's land use
plan.
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NCDOT
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