Indian Trail weighs three major redesigns for Wesley Chapel Road–Rogers Road intersection after neighborhood crash

Council members and residents on April 25 discussed three redesign options for the Wesley Chapel Road–Rogers Road intersection after a two-vehicle crash recently demolished a neighborhood entrance sign.

At public comment, Carrie Petrie, president of the Holly Park Homeowners Association, described the March crash and urged temporary safety measures while a long-term design is chosen. “The damage was nearly $5,000,” Petrie said, and asked whether the town or North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) could consider a temporary left-turn green arrow from Wesley Chapel Road onto Rogers Road to reduce risky left turns into the Holly Park entrance.

Town staff and the consultant presented three alternatives developed during Union County’s 2023 critical-intersection program: a split intersection (two separated signalized intersections), a quadrant intersection (movements redirected through a quadrant to reduce conflict points), and a more modest signalization improvement with additional turn lanes. Staff said the split and quadrant alternatives would reduce future queues and the projected crash exposure more than the third, lower-cost option.

The consultant’s planning-year cost estimates (with contingency per CRTPO guidance) ranged from about $3.9 million for the signalization upgrade to roughly $9 million for the split or about $6.8–$8.5 million (depending on escalation to 2030) for the quadrant/split options. Staff said the estimates include right-of-way, relocation and construction and that the county will include the chosen project in its submittal to the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO). If the town seeks federal funding, NCDOT would administer the grant while the town would be the project sponsor.

Several neighbors urged the council to minimize impacts on existing property. Laurie Pierce, whose parents own the 10-acre property at the intersection, said alternatives 1 and 2 would “cause my parents to lose their house” or place roadway lanes very close to the home. Resident Sydney Sandy said the family had tried to work with the school and town over the years and asked the council to favor the less intrusive option.

Town staff noted the county and NCDOT have been involved in the study and that the school drop-off patterns at nearby schools are a major contributor to peak congestion. Staff recommended the council review public outreach results and select an alternative at an upcoming meeting; Union County will consider adoption of the study and its recommendations in June.

No final design decision was made. Staff said they will return to the council in May with a recommendation and that any federally funded project would follow CRTPO/NCDOT programming, scoring and matching steps.

Votes and next steps: Council did not vote on a design at this meeting; staff will return with a recommended alternative at the next meeting. The consultant’s analysis and public survey results will go to Union County for final adoption in June.