Road Relocations - The runway project also requires the relocation of two area roads, Old Dowd Rd. and Wallace Neel Rd., which will be constructed in a manner to maintain road connections to airport neighborhoods.

Additionally, the Airport will relocate West Blvd. (NC Highway 160) to the south of the present road to accommodate the runway construction, extend the roadway to 1-485 and Garrison Rd., and provide access to the planned Airport Intermodal Facility.  West Blvd. will be relocated and constructed in phases, providing the connectivity needed for citizens and for the runway project. As funding is available, the road will be expanded to a four-lane highway.

Airport Vicinity Road Relocation Schedule

 

There are three elements to the project - the relocation of Old Dowd Rd. and Wallace Neel Rd.; relocation of West Blvd. and the runway. All are being constructed simultaneously.

Old Dowd Rd./Wallace Neel RD.  Relocation and Construction - Underway

The new road is funded primarily through Federal Aviation Administration grant dollars and airport funds. No public tax dollars are being used to fund the road relocation or the runway.

Completion Date: Summer 2008

(A)  The relocated Old Dowd. Rd. will connect to the current Old Dowd Rd. north of Runway 18R and extend west towards I-485.

(B)  Wallace Neel Rd. will pick-up Old Dowd Rd. at Walker's Ferry Rd. and continue south, traveling parallel and between I-485 and the new parallel runway. The road will (C) connect to West Blvd. on the south end of the airport.

(D) Walker's Ferry Rd. and Dixie River Rd. will be accessible from the new road via overpasses already in place.

West Blvd. Relocation and Construction - Underway

(E) West Blvd. Phase I: The construction of two lanes from I-485 at Garrison Rd. and extend to Byrum Dr. will begin in Summer 2007.

(F) Additionally, a new four lane section of road will be constructed from Byrum Dr. just west of its intersection with Yorkmont Rd. to the current West Blvd. at Horseshoe Ln.

(G) The new east leg and west leg of West Blvd. will be connected by the existing Byrum Dr.

The fist phase of the West Blvd. relocation will be in place prior to the completion of the runway so citizens can access the new Wallace Neel Rd. and connect to the east side of the city. Completion is anticipated for Summer 2008.

(H) West Blvd. Phase II: A new four lane section of road will be constructed south of the current Byrum Dr. once funding is in place.



Planned Detour for Runway and Wallace Neel Rd. Construction

CLT's third parallel runway located 4,300 feet west of the existing parallel runway requires the relocation of Wallace Neel Rd., which is shown in pink.  

 

Existing Old Dowd Rd./Wallace Neel Rd. is shown in purple.  Runway construction closed Wallace Neel Rd. from Old Dowd Rd. to Dixie River
Rd. in July 2007.  The Airport implemented a Local Traffic Only Detour (LTOD) using Walkers Ferry Rd., Mt. Olive Church Rd. and Dixie River Rd. to maintain community access west of I-485. Oversized vehicles and non-local traffic are rerouted via I-485.

 

In January 2008, the Airport will open a portion of the new Wallace Neel Rd. between Old Dowd Rd. to Walkers Ferry Road and between Dixie River Rd. and Garrison Rd.  The detour will be relocated to these new road sections at this time.

 

The relocated Wallace Neel Rd. will open to traffic in June 2008 and the relocated West Blvd. from I-485 interchange to Byrum Dr. will open in August 2008.