NCDOT: NC 16 widening for Waxhaw aimed to begin construction in late 2029–mid‑2030; completion expected about 2035

The North Carolina Department of Transportation expects the long‑planned widening of NC 16 in the Waxhaw area to begin construction between late 2029 and mid‑2030, with full completion targeted around 2035, NCDOT project manager Donald Griffith said on the Waxhaw Happenings podcast.

Griffith told host Bradley Lucore that the project (U‑5769, made up of U‑5769A and U‑5769B) is about 75% through design and is now in the right‑of‑way and easement acquisition phase. "These plans will be used during right of way slash easement acquisition, and that phase recently began and is expected to take approximately 2 years to complete," Griffith said.

The nut of the schedule, Griffith said, is sequential: right‑of‑way acquisition (about two years) will be followed by utility relocation (about two more years), and then construction. "The current schedule does anticipate construction beginning between late 2029 and mid 2030 with completion of the construction expected around 2035," he said, adding that because of the project’s size and complexity the schedule is unlikely to be accelerated.

Why it matters: the project will widen NC 16 (Providence Road) to a four‑lane divided facility between Waxhaw Parkway and just beyond Ray Road, serving Waxhaw, Marvin and Weddington. NCDOT says the improvements are intended to relieve congestion, improve traffic operations and reduce crash risk as traffic volumes grow.

Property owners and right‑of‑way: Griffith said NCDOT and an acquisition firm will contact affected property owners to discuss needs, present appraisals or claim reports, and negotiate offers. "The property owners certainly have the opportunity to negotiate their a counter offer," he said. He emphasized that state and federal laws require NCDOT to follow processes that protect and inform property owners during acquisition and relocation.

On survey stakes: NCDOT representatives said residents are likely to see survey crews staking proposed right‑of‑way and easement lines. "So if you see those stakes in the ground, don't go rip them up," Griffith said. He described the stakes as visual aids that help agents explain acquisition needs during negotiations.

Construction impacts and town coordination: NCDOT said residents should expect construction equipment, uneven pavement and changing traffic patterns, but that contractors will be required to maintain access to homes and businesses throughout the project. NCDOT will assign a resident engineer to oversee construction and will coordinate with the Town of Waxhaw to provide status updates and traffic‑shift information for public distribution.

Design and safety: Griffith described the planned use of reduced‑conflict intersections (RCIs), also called median u‑turns, to cut conflict points at intersections. He cited NCDOT traffic‑safety findings that RCIs constructed without traffic signals saw a 50% reduction in total crashes and an 80% reduction in frontal‑impact crashes, and a North Carolina State University study that found about a 20% time saving compared with some conventional corridors.

Contacts and next steps: NCDOT said it has posted a public project webpage, a project email address and a phone number; questions submitted through those channels or via the NCDOT Contact Us form are routed to subject‑matter experts. The town will share the project webpage link on its channels. NCDOT encouraged residents with questions to use those official contact routes.

The town podcast closed after the guests — Griffith and NCDOT communications officer Jen Goodwin, and town engineer James Kelly — fielded audience questions and urged continued contact through the project webpage and NCDOT’s contact form.