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Mecklenburg County lawmakers push for more funding to make a problem intersection safer

A proposed bill would fund changes to the intersection of North Tryon and Eastway Drive in northeast Charlotte, where over 240 crashes have happened since 2014.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mecklenburg County lawmakers are pushing for money from the state to make a northeast Charlotte intersection safer. 

A proposed bill would help fund infrastructure changes to North Tryon Street and Eastway Drive, an intersection that's dangerous to pedestrians and drivers.

“This is a $2.5 million project," North Carolina Rep. Nasif Majeed said.

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Just one look at where North Tryon and Eastway meet makes it easy to see why it's a trouble spot. Cars zoom by, there are limited crosswalks and the layout is somewhat confusing because it's not a straight-on intersection. 

“It’s very intimidating crossing this street," said Majeed, who represents the district where the intersection lies. 

Majeed is now on a mission to make the intersection safer for pedestrians after neighbors in Hidden Valley brought forward their concerns. House Bill 854, known as the Safety Funds for Highway 49 and Eastway Drive bill, would fund updates to the utilities and street infrastructure. It would also change the way the intersection looks and operates. 

“It’s well needed,” Majeed said. 

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Charlotte transportation officials said there were 243 crashes at the intersection between 2014 and 2022. Of those wrecks, 90 resulted in injuries. Thankfully, there have been no deaths. Majeed doesn't want to wait until a life is lost to fix it. 

"We don't need to wait for an accident to happen," he said. 

North Tryon and Eastway are maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, which means the state has the primary responsibility for improvements. However, Charlotte DOT has heard the desire for better facilities, especially for pedestrians. 

“Somebody dies and then they make the change," Majeed said. "Let's be proactive and make changes before that situation happens." 

CDOT says it is appreciative of the investment that the General Assembly is considering. The bill is currently moving through committee meetings.

Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

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