garden parkway

A major new tollroad proposed in North Carolina is becoming an election issue. Kathy Harrington the likely new state senator for Gaston County, location for the proposed Garden Parkway, is campaigning as an opponent. The seat though held by a retiring Democrat is regarded by pollsters as a shoo-in for the GOP candidate and Harrington as the most conservative Republican leads in a 4-way primary.

North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) have slimmed down their planned Garden Parkway on the westside of the Charlotte NC metro area to reduce its costs and make it fly financially. What was a $1280m project early 2009 has a year later been cut by 27% to $928m. Construction cost is dropped 35% from $1021m to $662m and right of way cost 7% from $191m to $179m.

A route has been selected for a Gaston East-West Connector, a tollroad planned on the western edge of the greater Charlotte NC area. This is an important step toward completing environmental and planning clearances. The road is also known as Garden Parkway.