Project Overview
Several segments of road as well as most intersections along U.S. 321 between Hickory and Lenoir are experiencing congestion, and travel demands are not being satisfied in the area. These conditions are expected to worsen as traffic volumes increase in the next 20 years.
To reduce traffic congestion, the N.C. Department of Transportation plans to modify three major intersections in Caldwell County to
reduced conflict intersections and widen U.S. 321 in this area to six lanes, with three lanes in each direction.
Intersection modifications are anticipated to begin in late 2025.
Extending 13.9 miles – from just north of U.S. 70 in Hickory to Southwest Boulevard in Lenoir – the proposed project crosses through five cities and towns (Hickory, Granite Falls, Sawmills, Hudson and Lenoir) as well as three counties (Catawba, Burke and Caldwell).
Project Funding
This project is listed as Project U-4700 in the
N.C. Department of Transportation's State Transportation Improvement Program. It has been divided into six segments and is funded for $386 million. Two of the segments - widening U.S. 321 from U.S. 321-A to Mission Road and Mission Road to Southwest Boulevard - are not yet funded.