MOORESVILLE, N.C. — For drivers who want a better route from Interstate 77 in Iredell County to Interstate 85, there is hope.
Mooresville town leaders broke ground on the first phase of the East-West Connector Thursday. The project will eventually connect the two interstates by way of Langtree Road, giving drivers a new route that doesn't involve taking the often-jammed North Carolina 150.
Phase 1 of the $33 million project will connect the Lowe's corporate office on Langtree Road direct access to North Carolina 115 and Shearers Road. It will also include a new railroad crossing with a more level surface. The current crossing is elevated, making it difficult for trucks to get through the area.
"Growth is a double-edged sword," Commissioner Lisa Qualls said. "You're blessed with a lot of opportunity, but it's also a big commitment."
Qualls said Iredell County sees about 18,000 people drive into the county every day and around 14,000 who drive out. She said it's important to give drivers options, and this project, which has been talked about for years, is a big step in the right direction.
"There are a lot of people here that never thought this would happen, but we're here," she explained.
County leaders says they hope the connector will make life easier for drivers in southern Iredell County and continue to drive further economic development in Mooresville.
"We want people to live here, work here and have a good qualify of life," Qualls said. "That's so important with infrastructure and being able to have that mobility is the first part of that."
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