Slowly but surely, Gastonia is making progress on four road widening projects drivers have been anticipating for years.
Plans call for adding lanes along four congested routes: South Myrtle School/Davis Park roads, South New Hope, Titman and Union roads. In May 2010, voters gave the city permission to spend $24.6 million to widen specific stretches of those roads, ranging from half a mile to 1.7 miles.
City leaders say they would’ve liked to begin laying asphalt four years ago. But it’s never that easy. Negotiating with private landowners over buying land for rights of way is time-consuming. Relocating spaghetti-like networks of utility lines, phone lines and underground cables is even more complex.
Residents all have their own opinions on the most problematic stretches and which should get priority.
“Titman is awful,” said Jeremy Eastburn of Gastonia. “We drive it multiple times a day to take the kids to and from school, and it feels like the edges of the road are falling off into the shoulder a little more every day.”
But there are clear indications things are moving along, said Assistant City Manager Flip Bombardier.
The fastest progress is being made on South Myrtle School Road. Trees are cleared and overhead utility line relocations are underway there. Construction should begin in June and be finished next spring.
Construction is also scheduled to begin on Titman Road in October, and take about a year to finish.
The going is slower on South New Hope Road, where construction isn’t slated to begin until summer 2015. And the Union Road work is bringing up the rear, due in part to the city handling the widening design work in-house, an attempt to save money.
Bombardier emphasized that all of the projected construction dates are still tentative
“Things could move it up, things could move it back,” he said. “But this is the best we know at this time.”
Road widening projects being funded through the 2010 million bond package:
1. South Myrtle School/Davis Park Road, to three lanes from Franklin to Hudson – $9.2 million – 1.7 miles
2. South New Hope Road, to five lanes from Burtonwood to Garrison – $5.8 million ($1.5 million city share) – 0.55 miles
3. Titman Road, to three lanes from New Hope to Lowell-Bethesda – $5.6 million – 1.01 miles
4. Union Road, to five lanes from Niblick to Osceola – $7.1 million – 1.02 miles
SOUTH MYRTLE SCHOOL/DAVIS PARK ROADS
What’s scheduled: Widening from two lanes to three lanes, with new curbs and gutters
Distance: 1.7 miles between Franklin and Hudson boulevards
Projected cost: $9.2 million
Right of way acquisition: Complete
Utility line relocation: About 10 percent finished. Should be complete by August 2014
Anticipated construction: June 2014 to April 2016
TITMAN ROAD
What’s being done: Widening from two lanes to three lanes, with new curbs and gutters
Distance: 1 mile between South New Hope and Lowell Bethesda roads
Projected cost: $5.5 million
Right of way acquisition: Under way. Should be complete by April 2014
Utility line relocation: Expected from May 2014 to September 2014
Anticipated construction: October 2014 to October 2015
SOUTH NEW HOPE ROAD
What’s scheduled: Widening from four lanes to five lanes, with new curbs and gutters
Distance: 0.55 miles from Burtonwood Drive to Garrison Boulevard
Projected cost: $5.8 million ($1.5 million city share)
Right of way acquisition: Under way. Should be complete by March 2014
Utility relocation: Expected from March 2014 to December 2014
Anticipated construction: July 2015 to Spring 2017
UNION ROAD
What’s scheduled: Widening from four lanes to five lanes, with new curbs and gutters
Distance: 1 mile from Niblick Drive to Osceola Street
Projected cost: $7.1 million
Right of way acquisition: Expected from August 2014 to December 2014
Utility line relocation: Expected from January 2015 to June 2015
Anticipated construction: August 2016 to May 2017
You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or twitter.com/GazetteMike.