Two major road projects have just begun that will transform the highway grid west of I-85 through Derita. The state recently began preliminary clearing for the long-planned Graham Street Extension/Mallard Creek Road widening and realignment around the Derita business district. The city of Charlotte started clearing and grading in November to extend University City Boulevard from Neal Road to the new Mallard Creek Road. “Once this project is complete, street connectivity will be improved in northeast Charlotte by linking two major thoroughfares,” said Charlotte Engineering Project Manager Leslie Bing.
Details of Mallard Creek Road realignment
The state project will create an entirely new four-lane path for Mallard Creek Road between Sugar Creek Road at Graham Street and Mallard Creek Road just west of Morris Estate Drive. The state will also widen Mallard Creek Road to four lanes from there to West W.T. Harris Blvd. Heavy construction is now projected to start by early March on the $28.7 million project, with completion planned for April 2017.
Details of University City Blvd extension
The University City Boulevard Extension will run across mostly open land except for a short stretch on its western end where it will follow part of Rumple Road. University City Boulevard and Mallard Creek Road will meet at the current jog on Rumple Road. The $10.8 million city project is projected for completion in June 2015, two years earlier than the Mallard Creek Road completion.
“Our goal during construction of the project is to minimize impacts to surrounding neighborhoods, businesses, and commuting citizens,” Bing said. “Citizens should obey all regulatory and informational signage during construction.”
Can someone contact me about when will the Rumple Road part of this project be completed. It has been over 3 years that our neighborhood has been torn up. It looks a mess and is an extreme eye sore. Weeks go by with no work taking place. This is unacceptable and would not happen on Providence Road.
Mia Shelton
704-622-7123
Hi Mia,
Sorry for being so long in getting back to you on your comment in March regarding delays with completing the extension of University City Boulevard and the realignment of Graham Street and Mallard Creek Road. Yes, the state project (Graham and Mallard Creek Road) is taking a long time – and the state timeline shows that they expected to take a long time. The city expected to be done by now, but the contractor simply got behind and refused to catch up. After issuing repeated fines for the delays, the city finally had to let that company go and find a new one. I believe the city expects to be finished by mid-2016 on extending University City Boulevard to the state’s new Graham Street-Mallard Creek Road connector.
Rich Haag
I agree whole heartedly eith Mia.
Everday folks around here have to look at the road barriers, some of which are thrown all over the neighborhood, as well as having to look at the torn up streets as the project seems to be going nowhere.
We have the same expectations and rights to a visually appeasing neighborhood as those who live in Myers Park and South Charlotte. We have not received any explanations whatsoever as to why this project is not progressing.
One would hope that this has nothing to do with the demographics of our area, but I am no longer sure about this.
An explanation as to what is happening with this project would be appreciated. We here in University have the same expectations as those so called privileged individuals in the city of Charlotte .
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Hi Lorenz,
Sorry for delay getting back to you. As I wrote to Mia back in early May, the city is working to find a contractor to replace the one who stopped working on the project. City staff is quite frustrated, too. They have not dealt with having several contractors basically leave jobs. I suspect they bid too low during the recession and have found work now that pays a lot more. Main thing is city is clearly trying to get this job finished, too. State has dealt with similar problems on the North Tryon Street bridges over Mallard Creek and Independence Boulevard widening. You can talk to city staff directly by emailing the project manager, Leslie Bing, at lbing@ci.charlotte.nc.us.
Rich