MATTHEWS, N.C. — The plan to build another roundabout and widen lanes on Idlewild Road may be getting fast-tracked. Matthews town leaders have voted to enter an agreement with NCDOT and developer Pappas Properties that could speed up the project.
One driver called Idlewild Road's traffic, "terrible." Another said, "it's not too bad," except during rush hour.
"The way to home from work is really bad and the way to work is really bad," said Thomas, a Matthews resident who didn't share his last name.
New neighborhoods being built on Idlewild Road and future large developments like Sante Matthews will add to the congestion.
In NCDOT’s long-term plan for Idlewild Road, lanes will be widened and another roundabout will be built near the Interstate 485 interchange. However, construction wasn't projected to start until 2028.
"The dates that we have in our plan are 2026 to start acquiring property and 2028 to start construction," NCDOT spokesperson Jen Thompson explained.
However, the town of Matthews has approved accepting a $9 million advancement from Pappas Properties, the developer behind Sante Matthews.
The live, work, play community will be next to the I-485 interchange and attract thousands of cars to the area daily. So, Pappas Properties is putting money toward road improvements, which could speed up the project by two years.
"That'd be perfect, I think that'll help everybody out," driver Jayvion Livingston said.
The road project aims to improve traffic and safety on Idlewild Road.
"A roundabout kind of eliminates the possibility of cars crashing at higher speeds and also at certain angles, and it keeps traffic flowing," Thompson said.
She added that drivers living in the Charlotte area should expect to see more roundabouts being built in the future.
Once agreements are finalized between Pappas Properties and Matthews, NCDOT will spend the next couple of years buying property along Idlewild Road to make room for more lanes.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.