CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Concord officials plan to revamp the busy corridor connecting Concord Mills and the Charlotte Motor Speedway but first, they want the public's input on how to do it.
Concord Mills Boulevard is the epicenter of tourism in Concord – connecting the Charlotte Motor Speedway, airport, and Concord Mills off Interstate 85.
Right now, the busy road might best be known for its backups.
"It's heavy, yeah," one Concord resident said about the traffic. Another said their commute time to work has doubled over the years.
The latest data from Explore Cabarrus shows visitor spending in Cabarrus County was $567 million in 2022, an 18% increase from the year prior.
City planners want to capitalize on that growth by improving and beautifying the corridor to reflect its destination status.
"It's one of the busiest exits on I-85 I would say in the state," Kaylee Caton, Concord's design manager, said. "It's definitely such an important area for the City of Concord."
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The flyover bridge to Concord Mills is one traffic improvement made in recent years. Now, city planners are looking for other ways to relieve congestion.
"Recommendations are maybe a transit lane or modifications to a turn lane that could include more of a dedicated bus lane," Caton explained.
There is also a proposed recommendation to build a bridge over I-85 to connect Quay and Old Holland Roads.
Caton said other recommendations in the plan would make the area more walkable – adding more crosswalks, sidewalks, and a multi-use path. The goal is to create, "inviting and safe places to gather and then also that multi-modal kind of mobility of getting people around," Caton said.
Nearby residents love the idea.
"I think it'd be wonderful for people who live here," Kay Nunn said.
"Who doesn’t want to walk sometimes," Ros Medlin asked. "So, yeah I would like that."
Medlin added that she is curious about how the projects will be paid for. "I just don't want to see taxes go skyrocketing," she said.
The recommended multi-million-dollar improvements are part of Concord’s 2030 plan. City planners want to hear from people who live, work, and visit Concord about which projects to prioritize. The online survey is available through April 19.
City planners will use the responses to draft their recommendations, which will be presented to the Concord City Council in August.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.