CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Charlotte city leaders are moving forward with plans to connect South End and Uptown through the rail trail.
Council members gave the go-ahead for the Interstate 277 pedestrian bridge project Monday night.
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It’s a project years in the making and finally, people on the rail trail could start to see progress.
Those who live and work between South End and Uptown said they’ll certainly make use of the pedestrian bridge.
“I was actually pretty excited about it,” said Adis Delic, who lives in South End and commutes to Uptown for work.
That excitement is shared by many people who use the rail trail for exercise, commuting and recreation.
“I walk this area all the time and that’s something I could most definitely use,” said Vernon Crawford, who lives in South End.
The plan is to build a 280-foot-long pedestrian bridge from the CATS Brooklyn Village station in South End to Uptown.
“Just making Charlotte more pedestrian friendly because it gets really busy around here, but I think it would be a super good thing for our city,” said Alexis Parker, who works in South End.
It’ll include a 16-foot wide-lane lane for cyclists and walkers.
“I think it’ll be pretty helpful, especially now,” said Delic. “You see people on bikes, you see the scooters, you see all the people taking their dogs out. There’s a lot of different reasons people use the rail trail.”
People who get to work on foot say this will be more convenient.
“The way I walk to work is kind of like I have to cut over a couple of blocks and stuff and this seems like a lot more of a direct path, so pretty excited about that,” said Delic.
They believe it’ll also be good for businesses in the area.
“I think it’ll most definitely benefit the people in this area,” said Crawford. “The bars, bar crawling, grocery shopping, just like the basics, going to get something to eat, hanging out.”
The project has a $16.3 million price tag, and the money for it will come from various city, county and state funds.
Beyond the ease for travelers, many are expecting the bridge to be a landmark in the Queen City.
“I think it’s just also awesome,” said Delic. “Something very nice, very pretty and I think it really adds to the aesthetic and like vibe of Charlotte as well.”
A company called Blythe Construction will complete the work if North Carolina Department of Transportation leaders give the final approval.
The bridge is expected to open in 2028.
