Proposed Improvements
U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) will be widened from west of Idlewild Road in Charlotte to I-485 in Matthews to provide an additional general-purpose lane (totaling three general purpose lanes), one express lane and one auxiliary lane in each direction.
Access for drivers along U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) will change because of this proposed project. Interchanges or bridge crossings at major intersecting roads will provide direct access to U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard), and all existing at-grade (roads that meet at the same elevation) traffic signals on this section of U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) will be removed.
One express lane will be constructed in each direction in the median of U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard), with access provided at certain interchanges or merge access from the general-purpose lane at designated access points.
The project also includes upgrades or new location connections that will create a complete network of roads that run parallel to U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard).
In the 2020
Environmental Assessment document, the proposed roads were grouped into U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) from I-485 Charlotte Outer Loop to Idlewild Road and U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) from Sardis Road North to Idlewild Road. The N.C. Department of Transportation has further divided the proposed project to facilitate construction and to enhance connectivity throughout the corridor before implementing traffic capacity improvements.
A description of how these improvements is grouped, and the anticipated start of right of way acquisition and construction are provided in the table below.
U-2509AA
| Reconstruct Sharon Forest Drive to grade separated design
Reconstruct Harris Boulevard, Village Lake Drive, Margaret Wallace Road to grade separated design
| 2025
| 2029
|
U-2509AB
| Reconstruct Sardis Road North, and Sam Newell Road to grade separated intersections
Arequipa Drive extension from Sardis Road North to Sam Newell Road
| 2025
| 2029
|
U-2509AC
| Independence Pointe Parkway extension from Windsor Square Drive to N.C. 51
| 2025
| 2028
|
U-2509AD
| Matthews-Mint Hill Road grade separated intersection
Northeast Parkway Extension from Overcash Drive to Waiting Street
| 2025
| 2029
|
U-2509EA
| Margaret Wallace Road and Arequipa Drive intersection improvements
| 2025
| 2027
|
U-2509EB
| Independence Pointe Parkway extension from Sardis Road to Sam Newell Road
| 2025
| 2027
|
U-2509B
| Widen U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) to include additional general-purpose lanes and express lanes west of Idlewild Road to Wallace Lane Construct a direct connector on the wide side of Conference Drive
| 2026
| 2029
|
U-2509C
| Widen U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) to include additional general-purpose and express lanes from Wallace Lane to Sardis Road
Express lane grade-separated intersection at Sardis Road
Widen U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) to include additional general-purpose and express lanes from Sardis Road to I-485
| Funded for preliminary engineering only
| Funded for preliminary engineering only
|
U-2509D
| Express lane interchanges on I-485 and the east side of Conference Drive
Reconstruct the interchange at N.C. 51
| Funded for preliminary engineering only
| Funded for preliminary engineering only
|
*Dates are as shown in the currently adopted 2024-2033 STIP. Future dates are subject to change. Changes to various project segment dates are anticipated with the adoption of the 2026-2035 STIP in summer 2025.
**Unfunded STIP
Alternatives & Environmental Assessment
NCDOT has been working with local government agencies to discuss transportation needs along U.S 74 (Independence Boulevard). These discussions have helped to determine several project features, including the type of roadway; number of express lanes; and number and location of access points, bridges, and interchanges.
The
Environmental Assessment document describes the alternatives studied at the Sardis Road North interchange and for extending Independence Pointe Parkway from Windsor Square Drive to Matthews Township Parkway. In coordination with regulatory agencies, the preferred alignment selected is a two-quadrant (intersection) alternative for the Sardis Road North bridge, and Alignment Option 1 was selected for the extension of Independence Pointe Parkway.
Since the Environmental Assessment was signed by the Federal Highway Administration in 2020, design changes have been proposed due to supplementary traffic data and continued coordination with regulatory and local agencies. The design changes are not anticipated to change the impacts reported in the Environmental Assessment and are currently being incorporated into a revised version. This process is called an Environmental Assessment Re-Evaluation. The Environmental Assessment Re-Evaluation and supplementary environmental studies are now complete, and the public can review and provide comments.
NCDOT is continuing to work closely with regulatory agencies and local government agencies in Charlotte and Matthews. This coordination has helped refine the proposed project scope and design decisions. NCDOT will continue to coordinate with these agencies through completion of the environmental review process, final design, and construction.
Parallel Roads & Business Access
The proposed improvements project to U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) includes the completion of several parallel roads that will provide access to the back of businesses currently occupying U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard).
The parallel roads will allow for the separation of local traffic while through traffic continues to use U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard). The parallel roads are intended to increase connectivity to, from, and between communities adjacent to U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard). These parallel roads are:
- Arequipa Drive extension from Sardis Road North to Sam Newell Road
- Independence Pointe Parkway extension from Windsor Square Drive to N.C. 51
- Northeast Parkway extension from Overcash Drive to Waiting Street
- Independence Pointe Parkway extension from Sardis Road to Sam Newell Road
- New segments of Krefeld Drive, Arequipa Drive, and Independence Pointe Parkway on new location (unfunded)
Access to the Express Lanes
From U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard), drivers will be able to move between express lanes and general-purpose lanes at the following locations:
- I-485
- Sardis Road North
- Conference Drive
- Albemarle Road