Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Street Maintenance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Matthews board unanimously approves maintenance swap: Town to take over South Trade Street, NCDOT to assume Fullwood Lane
Summary
The board voted unanimously to transfer maintenance of South Trade Street to the town and Fullwood Lane to NCDOT, citing functional classification and a small Powell Bill revenue shift; staff said temporary drainage fixes will be completed before transfer.
The Matthews Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to transfer maintenance responsibility for South Trade Street (from John Street to Fullwood Lane) to the town and to transfer Fullwood Lane to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, a trade staff said better matches each roadway’s function.
Public Works Director CJ O'Neal told the board the swap aims to make Matthews more nimble in managing downtown infrastructure; Fullwood functions as a higher-volume arterial that aligns with state maintenance, while South Trade Street serves downtown and would allow the town greater control for local improvements.
O'Neal said the change would reduce Powell Bill revenue by roughly $2,800 annually but still produce a net positive operational outcome because Powell Bill funds cover only about 40% of road costs. He also said staff will install temporary millings and related work to mitigate an existing gravel area before the formal transfer to DOT.
Resident Joanne Campbell, who said she lives in Hampton Green, urged the board to prioritize crosswalk and intersection safety at the Trade/Fullwood corner, describing multiple near-miss incidents for pedestrians and requesting that any transfer account for safety improvements.
On a motion by Commissioner John Urban and a second by Commissioner Gaddy, the board approved the transfer per a memo from CJ O'Neal dated June 22, 2026. The motion passed by voice vote with no dissents.
The action becomes effective per the terms in the staff memo; staff will coordinate any pre-transfer temporary fixes and engage NCDOT for the Fullwood Lane handover.
