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Gastonia council asks NCDOT to restore funding schedule for Union Road widening, North New Hope turn lane
Summary
City council voted unanimously to direct staff to send resolutions urging the North Carolina Department of Transportation to restore original schedules and full funding for two Gastonia projects after a draft STIP delayed right-of-way and construction dates.
Gastonia City Council on April 1 voted unanimously to ask the North Carolina Department of Transportation to restore the originally programmed schedule and funding for two transportation projects in the city: the Union Road widening (project U5961) and a right-turn lane at North New Hope Road (project U6138).
Council members made the request after Randy Gates, the city’s director of transportation, told the council that the draft State Transportation Improvement Program for 2026–2035 proposes moving right-of-way and utility work on Union Road from 2025 to 2027 and delaying construction from 2028 to a later date. Gates said the Union Road project “is a vital infrastructure project for the city” and includes a $5 million local match from Gastonia’s 2010 general obligation bond proceeds toward an estimated $46,300,000 total cost.
The council also asked staff to press NCDOT to fully program and fund all phases of the North New Hope right-turn-lane project, a roughly $2,950,000 improvement that Gates said now appears in the draft only for preliminary engineering rather than for right-of-way and construction. Council members and staff told NCDOT that local traffic studies show high congestion at that intersection, especially at peak times.
Why it matters: The Union Road corridor serves current and planned development, and the city already delivered a $5 million local match to NCDOT. Delays to right-of-way acquisition and construction could affect traffic flow, pedestrian connectivity and development timed to roadway improvements.
Gates walked the council through other county and regional projects included in the draft STIP and noted that NCDOT is taking public comments through April 4 on the draft program. Council members said they will copy the city’s state legislative delegation when sending the resolutions to reinforce the city’s request.
Councilman Jim Gallagher, summarizing local frustration about project timing and utility work, urged the department to “take a second look” at areas where utilities already have been moved. Councilwoman Stepp asked staff to prepare an additional resolution later urging the department to restore schedules for widening of New Hope Road as well.
The council’s motion authorized staff to send the resolutions and related letters to NCDOT; the motion passed unanimously.
