U-5768: N.C. 49 Widening
U-5768: N.C. 49 Widening
Widen N.C. 49 from John Kirk Drive to I-485. Realign Black Creek Church Road on new location to the N.C. 49 and Mallard Creek Church Road intersection in Charlotte.
Preliminary engineering activities for this project have resumed.
The N.C. 49 Widening and Back Creek Church Road Realignment Project is a joint project between the N.C. Department of Transportation and the City of Charlotte Department of Transportation. NCDOT is designing the full project, including constructing the N.C. 49 widening, while the City of Charlotte will be responsible for funding the relocation of Back Creek Church Road.
The project proposes to widen 1.2 miles of N.C. 49 (University City Boulevard) between John Kirk Drive and I-485 to six lanes. The design also proposes realigning Back Creek Church Road (BCCR) to a new location to align with existing Mallard Creek Church Road (MCCR) and eliminating the at-grade BCCR crossing of the Norfolk Southern railroad by constructing a bridge over the railroad crossing. Existing BCCR will be dead-ended with a cul-de-sac south of the railroad.
The design proposes to grade separate N.C. 49 at MCCR; N.C. 49 will bridge over. The quadrant roads will connect N.C. 49 with the existing MCCR and the realigned BCCR.
Vicinity Map:
Purpose and Need:
The primary purposes of the proposed project are to reduce traffic congestion, improve traffic flow, and enhance traffic operations on N.C. 49. The project would improve safety for drivers and pedestrians who use and cross N.C.49 through an innovative design called Reduced Conflict Intersection at several points along the corridor.
To accommodate students and bicyclists, a 12-foot multi-use path is proposed on both sides of N.C. 49. The speed limit in this area of N.C. 49 is proposed to be reduced to 35 miles per hour.
Public Meeting Maps
Click on each map to enlarge it for easier viewing.
Sheet 1 of 4 - N.C. 49, from west of John Kirk Drive to east of Mallard Creek Church Road
Sheet 2 of 4 - N.C. 49, from Sams Lane to I-485 southbound (inner) on- and off-ramps
Sheet 3 of 4 - Realigned Back Creek Church Road, from N.C. 49 (opposite Mallard Creek Church Road) to Parsifal Lane
Sheet 4 of 4 - Realigned Back Creek Church Road, from Parsifal Lane to north of Timber Ridge Road
Project Funding
Project U-5768 is identified in the NCDOT’s State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and is funded for $41.85 million. The widening of N.C. 49 is programmed to receive State Highway Trust Funds, while local funds (CDOT) will support the realignment of Back Creek Church Road.
| Estimated Amount* |
| Utility Relocation | $ 7.5 Million |
| Right of Way Acquisition | $ 37.9 Million |
| Construction | $ 80.4 Million |
| Total Cost | $ 125.8 Million |
* Estimated costs are subject to change. Based on NCDOT STIP.
Project Timeline
Milestone | Date* |
| Public Meeting 1 | Spring 2019 |
| Environmental Document | Fall 2019 |
| Right of Way Acquisition Begins | Fall 2029 |
| Construction Begins | Summer 2033 |
* Future dates are preliminary and subject to change
Public Involvement
Public Meeting
A public meeting was held in April 2019 in Charlotte to obtain stakeholder and public input regarding the project's design.
Archive - 2019 Public Meeting Maps (please view the top paragraph of this page for the most up-to-date-maps):
Final Environmental Document
The final environmental document, a State Environmental Assessment / Finding of No Significant Impact (SEA/FONSI) is available below.
This is a large document so it has been broken into sections for ease of viewing.
U-5768 SEA/FONSI-Appendix A Agency Correspondence
U-5768 SEA/FONSI-Appendix B Cultural Resources
PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
Radha Attaluri, PE
Senior Project Manager
Project Management Unit
1582 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1582
PROJECT CONTACT INFORMATION
Corey Watt, PE
Senior Engineering Project Manager
Charlotte Department of Transportation
600 E. Fourth Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Title VI Feedback
To ensure we’re hearing from a broad set of voices, would you be willing to share (completely anonymously) some information about yourself?
If so, please click here https://publicinput.com/NCDOT-Title-VI-Form
RESOURCES FOR PROPERTY OWNERS
Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions
Right of way Acquisition Process Videos
Page Last Updated- October 21, 2026
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