Transportation
Catawba Crossings
Location not confirmed
Verified Project Information
Summary
Catawba Crossings is a proposed roadway connection between NC 279 in Gaston County and NC 160 in Mecklenburg County. Plans describe a four-lane boulevard, two bridges across the Catawba River system, and a new or expanded I-485 interchange. The adopted 2055 regional plan lists it as an unfunded unmet need; construction funding has not been identified.
Current stage: Planning or feasibility.
Current condition: Active.
Key Facts
Estimated Cost
No overall project cost is published.
Latest Progress
2026-03-26: GCLMPO adopted its 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. The plan lists Catawba Crossings among unmet needs outside the fiscally constrained program and marks it unfunded. Its table lists 5.7 miles and a 2025 cost of $199.818 million; the basis and relationship to the feasibility-study estimate are not explained.
Project Leaders
No lead organization is published.
Project Funding
No approved funding information is published.
Timeline
2055 plan retains crossing as an unmet need
GCLMPO adopted its 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan. The plan lists Catawba Crossings among unmet needs outside the fiscally constrained program and marks it unfunded. Its table lists 5.7 miles and a 2025 cost of $199.818 million; the basis and relationship to the feasibility-study estimate are not explained.
Stage after event: Planning or feasibilityFeasibility study completed
The feasibility study evaluated a proposed NC 279–NC 160 corridor with two river bridges and an I-485 interchange. It described approximately 6.5 miles and estimated $318.59 million total project cost using April 2021 cost data, including construction, right-of-way, and utilities.
Stage after event: Planning or feasibilityFeasibility study funding programmed
GCLMPO's FY 2020 work program documented $463,500 in federal, state, and local funds for the Catawba Crossings feasibility study. This is a planning-study amount, not construction funding or the total project cost.
Geography
Project site / location
No site geography relationship is published.
Affected / impact geography
No separate impact geography is published.
Map
No physical geometry is currently eligible for public mapping.
Visitor Feedback
80 visitor views
Thanks for your feedback.
Keep this project current
Saw something different from the project information here?
Noticed new construction activity, changes, or information that differs from what we've reported? Share your observation to help us keep this project up to date.
Visitor Feedback
80 visitor views
Thanks for your feedback.
Government Sources
- Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning Organization2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan - Chapter 52026-03-26Primary
- Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning OrganizationGCLMPO 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan2026-03-26Supporting
- Supporting
- Primary
- Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning OrganizationGCLMPO Board Agenda - March 26, 20202020-03-26Primary
- Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning OrganizationRiver District Feasibility Study Alternative Plans SP-1710A2017-08Supporting
- Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning OrganizationCatawba CrossingsPrimary
- Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning OrganizationCatawba Crossings Design FilesPrimary
Media Coverage
The Charlotte Ledger · 2022-12-01
Do we need a new bridge across the Catawba River? (opens original source in a new tab)
Transit Time reporting produced in partnership by The Charlotte Ledger and WFAE reviews the feasibility study's proposed crossing, its 2021-basis $318.59 million total estimate, and the absence of construction funding at publication.