A Message from the Mayor

As the holidays quickly approach, we give thanks for our family, friends, and many good fortunes.  For a lot of families, this year has been challenging and uncertain, but I think most can find something to be thankful for.  The same goes for the City.  The City Council and staff have worked to find ways to do more with less, and better serve citizens and customers every day.  But amid all of this there are several upcoming transportation projects that will dramatically improve quality of life, economic opportunity, and environmental impacts in our City.  In the near future, over $389 million in road improvements will happen in Concord.  An additional $340 million will complete I-485 in Mecklenburg County and connect it to I-85, which will greatly benefit Concord.  The majority of the improvements will receive state and federal funding.  This certainly is good news, but even more than that, it is essential to the economic recovery of our community.  This is good news that I have waited a long time to share, so I would like to give you some more detail about some of them.

MacCachern Boulevard pedestrian improvements and streetscape

State Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) improvement funding will provide $313,000 or eighty percent of the $391,000 total project cost to complete the Downtown Connector with improvements to McCachern Boulevard between Cabarrus and Corban Avenues.  City Council approved a plan to improve the streetscape along McCachern Boulevard in conjunction with the grant.  The plan includes features designed to: 1) make the street safer for pedestrians and bicyclists; 2) slow vehicle speeds; 3) reduce impervious surface by removing some paving; and 4) install landscaping.  It maintains the current number of on-street parking spaces.  The McCachern improvements are listed as a strategy in the Downtown Master Plan and could serve as a catalyst for private investment.

I-85 widening and I-485 completion

One of the most important projects in North Carolina is to widen the remaining four lane sections of I-85, largely through Cabarrus County, to match the rest of the highway from Durham through Charlotte. Governor Purdue recently announced that construction on I-85 in Cabarrus County will begin eighteen months ahead of schedule in mid-2010.  Along with the completion of I-485, the state will use the design-build-finance model for the first time in North Carolina to widen I-85 to eight lanes from Exits 49 to 55. 

The completion of I-485 will redistribute traffic at Exit 49 and around Concord Mills.  This area has approximately 1,700 hotel rooms, and hundreds of other shopping, dining, and entertainment-related businesses—it is vital to the local economy.  Both projects will greatly benefit Concord residents as well as visitors to our area.

Poplar Tent Road and Highway 73 interchanges

Improvements at Exits 52 and 55 are just as important as widening I-85.  The traffic volume at these interchanges has greatly outgrown the design.  Both will be re-worked to include traffic signals, sidewalks, bicycles lanes, and other changes to improve traffic flow and safety.  City Council supported the concerns of local residents with regards to the Pitts School Rd. realignment on the Barbee Farm and communicated with the NCDOT to find an acceptable alignment adjustment.  This realignment was announced on November 19, 2009.

CMAQ Project at Poplar Tent Road and US 29/601

The City is exploring a new superstreet design for improvements at this intersection instead of typical intersection and signal modifications.  Such a design will reduce congestion and in turn improve air quality benefits as well as reduce fuel consumption for motorists.  To date, NCDOT has approved the conceptual design for this intersection improvement project and a design consultant has been identified.  The City is providing the local match for this project, which equates to almost $400,000.

George Liles Parkway extension

With the closing of Philip Morris, it is imperative to North Carolina, Cabarrus County, and Concord to replace these jobs and tax base.  The extension of the George W. Liles Parkway will connect US Highway 29 and the Philip Morris property (and others along the alignment) directly to I-85.  With the promise of donation of land from the major property owners, Concord and NCDOT have worked out an arrangement where Concord will up-front the money (probably in excess of $10 million), which will be reimbursed by the State once those funds are available as programmed in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).  This project has been accelerated due to the City’s involvement, and is currently scheduled to have a project Construction Let Date of April 2012.

Morehead Road realignment

NCDOT is providing $3.5 million dollars to relocate and improve Morehead Road as it runs parallel to the Lowe’s Motor Speedway property.  This will enhance pedestrian safety and vehicular movements for both speedway events and everyday local traffic.  The City of Concord has agreed to pay for additional engineering and to contribute $1.5 million to the construction project, and substantial completion is scheduled for October 2010.

Derita Road improvements

Derita Road is a main entryway to the Concord Mills area from northern Mecklenburg, southern Iredell, and western Cabarrus counties, and provides the only access to Concord Regional Airport.  The area has rapid industrial growth with many NASCAR-related businesses including Sprint Cup teams and the NASCAR Research and Development Center.  It is a State-maintained road, but traffic congestion is choking the corridor and the City has secured Federal monies, to which the City will provide a smaller match, to assist NCDOT in solving the problem.  As with the area at I-85 and Concord Mills/Bruton Smith Boulevard, this corridor is very important to Concord residents and visitors who travel through on a regular basis.  The improvements will be yet another relief on the overloaded roads around the speedway, Concord Convention Center, Concord Mills, Concord Regional Airport, and everything in between.

All of these projects provide a true benefit to those living, working, visiting, and passing through our City.  Many years of work have gone into the planning, but when they are all complete we will have a transformed road infrastructure in Concord that will be a great community asset.  They will help our economy by better attracting companies looking to locate facilities and create jobs in our City.  It will be more pleasurable for visitors to come to our shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment venues.  Those going to work and school will have an easier time on the daily commute.  Simply put, we will be safer and less stressed.

Finally, I would like to recognize long-time Council Member Hector Henry.  In addition to many years of service on City Council, Dr. Henry is a respected physician (currently serving at the Salisbury VA Medical Center) and a colonel in the United States Army Reserves Medical Corps.  We are glad to welcome Dr. Henry back to Concord after his third tour of duty in the Middle East.  Although he has a long list of professional, military, and civic accomplishments, we are quite proud of his latest:  serving as Grand Marshal in the Concord Christmas Parade on November 21.  Congratulations Hector and thank you for your continued service!

I’m thankful for the fine citizens of Concord, your resilient spirit, and your kindness in reaching out to others.  I wish you  the best for 2010.