The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to open all lanes of traffic on NC 16 in Catawba County this Thursday (Oct. 6th) as construction nears completion.

The 8-mile project  widening the road from a two-lane route to a four-lane divided roadway from Tower Road to Claremont Road south of Newton will improve traffic flow. 

“The Highway 16 expansion has been a long time coming, and we appreciate how patient our citizens have been through this process,” said Catawba County Board of Commissioners Vice Chair Barbara Beatty. “Catawba County is grateful to everyone who helped make this expansion happen.”

The contractor will still be completing some final  work along the project over the next few months that can be accomplished outside the travel way or under a short-term lane closure. Motorists are urged to use caution and stay alert for workers within the work zones. 

“The opening of this section of NC 16, for economic development purposes, is a huge key to formally connecting the Hickory MSA and the Charlotte MSA and unlocking the potential of ‘Charlotte’s Great Northwest’ into Catawba County and beyond,” said Scott Millar, president of the Catawba County Economic and Development Corporation. “The direct linkage of these two MSAs via the NC 16 connector is huge.” 

In other NCDOT news for Catawba County, a Catawba County intersection will have a new safety improvement installed next week.  The intersection of Lee Cline Road and Houston Mill road will be converted into an all-way stop.

Message boards will be set out on Oct. 10th and the change should be complete by Oct. 17th, weather permitting.

Motorists should remain alert when approaching the intersection and prepare to stop; then obey the traffic rules for such intersections (first vehicle there has the right of way).