Garden Parkway (North Carolina)

[FLRoads]

Does anyone have any insight as to the current status of the Garden Parkway in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties, NC?

[CarlFox]

Google brings up this : http://www.ncturnpike.org/projects/gaston/

Start 2010, completed by 2014, if I'm reading that right.

[FLRoads]

I should have looked there in the first place, but oh well...

After looking at the corridor study map, the parkway will not hook up with U.S. 321 in the northern part of Gastonia as I originally thought it would. And since it will be a toll facility, we know it will not carry an interstate designation...

[Voyager]

It's ok, we needed the extra thread. I've never heard of this and was in NC a few years ago, is this a more recent parkway?

[FLRoads]

IIRC, the original proposal for it was referred to as the Gaston Parkway.

[74/171FAN]

Garden Pkwy update as some are now doubting the idea

[74/171FAN]

But the NCTA has now decided on a route for the Garden Pkwy

[74/171FAN]

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/transportation-35916-millions-federal.html  Construction for Garden Pkwy alone is predicted to be $1.2 to $1.5 billion

[74/171FAN]

Wait the Garden Pkwy could actually increase traffic on I-85 instead of relieving it as intended  http://www.gastongazette.com/news/traffic-35951-garden-built.html 

[CanesFan27]

Very surprised ya'll haven't discussed how opponents of the Garden Parkway (I am one of them) are comparing the prorposed highway to the nearly default Southern Connector (Toll I-185) in Greenville, SC.

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2009/07/garden-parkway-opponents-compare-gaston.html

[CanesFan27]

A lot more detail on the history - and current status of the Garden Parkway is here:

http://www.buildthegardenparkway.com/online_media/

It's maintained by a group for the building the route. 

[CarolinaPaladin]

I should have looked there in the first place, but oh well...

After looking at the corridor study map, the parkway will not hook up with U.S. 321 in the northern part of Gastonia as I originally thought it would. And since it will be a toll facility, we know it will not carry an interstate designation...

Hi, everyone.  First time here.

This is the first phase of the Garden Parkway to serve southern Gaston County.  The second phase that will connect 85 to 321 abover Dallas will come up for design near 2014.

[CanesFan27]

The EPA has numerous concerns over the Garden Parkway:

Story:
http://www.gastongazette.com/news/parkway-36418-garden-cites.html

Commentary:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2009/07/epa-gaston-parkway-not-good-idea.html

[CanesFan27]

The Gaston MPO may be the key determining factor in the construction of the Garden Parkway.  There's now talk about reducing the highway to four lanes and removal of some of the projects 11 interchanges.

Story:
http://www.gastongazette.com/news/elected-36965-leaders-garden.html

Blog w/commentary:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/wouldcould-gaston-mpo-be-determining.html

[CanesFan27]

The Stop The Toll Road citizen group against the proposed Garden Parkway in Gaston County, NC has voiced their support of a possible 22 mile Gastonia-to-Charlotte light rail along the former Piedmont & Northern Right-of-way.

For additional details and commentary:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2009/11/garden-parkway-opponents-say-lets-look.html

[CanesFan27]

The Lake Wylie Pilot reports that the North Carolina Turnpike Authority will release the routing of the preferred alternative for the Garden Parkway the week of November 16th.

It will be interesting to hear what proponents and opponents of the Garden Parkway has to say. Interestingly, one of the websites supporting the construction of the Garden Parkway - buildthegardenparkway.com is now defunct.

Story:
http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/409/story/523595.html

[CanesFan27]

Earlier this month, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority announced their preferred alternative for the controversial Garden Parkway. The northern route or 'Alternative 9' has been chosen as the recommended route for the future toll road.

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/route-40681-state-road.html

[FLRoads]

Is the parkway going to have a state route designation or is it simply going to be referred as the Garden Parkway? Just curious...

[CanesFan27]

I'm pretty sure it will have a designation...but lets not get ahead of ourselves on it...there's a good chance it won't be built....in fact I'm against the road.

There's been a large upswell in opposition to the highway...and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets put off at least another decade.

[CanesFan27]

The Gastonia City Council was all set to pass a formal resolution against and offer alternatives to the Garden Parkway Tuesday night; however, supporters of the highway turned enough screws to shelve the resolution.

More details and commentary:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2009/12/gastonia-city-council-waffles-on-garden.html

[CanesFan27]

As a result of public opposition to a phased construction plan to the Garden Parkway, the NC Turnpike Authority has drastically changed the design of the highway allowing all 22 miles of the highway to be constructed at once.

Changes include - reducing the highway from six to four lanes from I-485 west to US 321.  Cutting further back to a Super-2 from US 321 west to I-85.  (Right of way would be bought for expansion to four lanes when needed.)

Elimination and restructuring of interchanges - and a less vertical alignment.

NCTA's presentation:
http://ncturnpike.org/pdf/Garden%20Parkway%2002-25-2010.pdf

Story in Gaston Gazette:
http://www.gastongazette.com/news/parkway-44153-garden-plan.html

Commentary at the blog:
http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2010/02/ncta-drastically-changes-garden-parkway.html

[Grzrd]

There's been a large upswell in opposition to the highway...and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets put off at least another decade.

Reviving a long dormant thread ...

Garden Parkway opponents are airing TV ads in opposition to the toll road:

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/27523746/detail.html

Here's a link to a Gaston Gazette article about the TV ads and the uncertainty of funding for the project:

http://www.gastongazette.com/news/garden-56613-opponents-parkway.html

[Buummu]

I think this toll road is not needed... it's just a waste of taxpayers money.. All this money can just go to widening I-85 throughout Gaston country til the South Carolina state line...

Or it can go to the northernmost route.. from I-85 north towards US 321... which will complete the bypass.... Thank goodness for these oppositions.. I am in fact against the road as well as the Monroe Bypass (another toll road!)

[CanesFan27]

Federal Approval given for Garden Parkway in Gaston County - NCDOT expects to start construction mid-2013 and opening in 2015.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ_wQKiRNzo

[CanesFan27]

HEre are a couple more links and details: Sorry, I just saw a tweet about it and hadn't gone through my Google News Alerts:

It appears that tolls will be about 15 cents a mile.  Funding from GARVEE Bonds, toll revenues and bonds.  The project will consist of two design-build projects one for a fourlane highway from I-485 West to US 321.  And a 'super two' from US 321 west to I-85.

http://www.wbtv.com/story/17057566/nc-turnpike-authority-receives-final-approal-for-garden-parkway-route
http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/parkway-68188-garden-federal.html
http://www.wfae.org/wfae/1_87_316.cfm?action=display&id=8378