CHINA GROVE – The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is holding two public hearings this week about the widening of Interstate 85 in Rowan and Cabarrus counties.
A drop-in open house for public comments and questions will be held Thursday from 4-6:30 p.m. at J.C. Carson High School, 290 Kress Venture Road in China Grove. A formal presentation will follow at 7 p.m.
Another open house and formal presentation were held Tuesday at the Kannapolis Train Station.
NCDOT proposes to widen and improve I-85 from N.C. 73 in Cabarrus County to the U.S. 29/601 connector in Rowan County and proposes interchange improvements at U.S. 29/601, Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, Lane Street and N.C. 152. Improvements are also proposed at the U.S. 29/601 connector and N.C. 152 interchange.
The purpose of the project is to provide relief from present and future congestion and provide a higher level of efficiency on I-85. Additional right-of-way acquisition and the relocation of homes and businesses will be required for this project.
At the open house, NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and receive comments regarding the proposed projects. The opportunity to submit written comments and questions will be provided. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the above hours.
The formal presentation will consist of an explanation of the proposed location, design, right of way and relocation requirements and procedures. Citizens will have the opportunity to comment or ask questions. The presentation and comments will be recorded and a transcript will be prepared.
Maps displaying the design of the project are available for public review at the Cabarrus-Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization, 135 Cabarrus Ave. E., Suite 101, Concord; City of Concord, Alfred M. Brown Operations Center, 850 Warren C. Coleman Blvd.; City of Kannapolis, 246 Oak Ave.; Town of China Grove, 402 N. Main St., Suite 204, Salisbury; Town of Landis, 312 S. Main St., Landis; Rowan County Planning & Development, 402 N. Main St., Suite 204, Salisbury; Cabarrus County Governmental Center, 65 Church St. S., Concord; and the NCDOT District Office, 4770 S. Main St., Salisbury. Copies of the maps are also available on the project website at www.ncdot.gov/projects/publicmeetings/.
Anyone desiring additional information may contact Jamille Robbins, NCDOT, Human Environment Section at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27669-1598, by phone at 919-707-6085, or via email at jarobbins@ncdot.gov. Additional material may be submitted until Dec. 14.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to participate in these meetings. Anyone requiring special services should contact Robbins as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.
Persons who speak Spanish and do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.