Environmental and Preliminary Design Studies
In accordance with the Federal Highway Administration, the N.C. Department of Transportation has completed the Categorical Exclusion environmental document for the express lanes project on U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) from I-277 to Idlewild Road.
Final design plans for the project will be combined with the proposed U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) from west of Idlewild Road to Wallace Lane project. These projects would provide express lanes along U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) from I-277 to Wallace Lane. In addition, the U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) from west of Idlewild Road to Wallace Lane project will create a direct route between the express lanes and the west side of Conference Drive. The route between the express lanes and the east side of Conference Drive will be built during future U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) projects.
The project team is also coordinating with local stakeholders about nearby projects, including the Charlotte Area Transit System Silver Line light rail project. The team is reviewing proposed improvements and how the proposed U.S. 74 Express Lanes project connects with other projects along the corridor.
A design noise report is underway to further evaluate potential highway traffic noise resulting from the project.