The state is about to close part of a major Lake Norman-area intersection for six months to widen a clogged stretch of a key east-west artery, Mooresville assistant town manager Ryan Rase revealed this week.
“The news that I want to make the public aware of is that they will be closing the intersection of (U.S.) 21, Brawley School Road and West Wilson Avenue,” Rase told the Mooresville Board of Commissioners at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 2, according to a recording of the meeting on the town’s You Tube site.
“The active closure will be between Country Club (Golf Course) Drive and 21 on Wilson for the next 180 days,” Rase said.
The closure is scheduled to begin at 12 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15, according to message boards at the intersection on Monday.
Brawley School Road and U.S. 21 will remain open during the work, NCDOT spokesperson Chrissy Murphy said.
The state will release more details later Monday, including the detour route and the expected reopening date of West Wilson Avenue, Murphy said.
Town officials learned of the upcoming closure earlier on the day of the Town Board meeting, Rase told the commissioners.
The state is widening Brawley School Road from Interstate 77 exit 35 to U.S. 21. The $51 million project will include sidewalks and an improved intersection at chronically backed-up U.S. 21 and Brawley School Road/West Wilson Avenue, according to the NCDOT project page. The widening began in June 2024 and is expected to finish in three years.
“The good news is that construction continues on the Brawley School Road project, which is about 50% complete,” Rase said.
Resident upset by upcoming intersection closure
Mooresville resident Richard Beck criticized the closure in an email to The Charlotte Observer and local and state elected officials. The state should at least keep a lane open, he said.
“This closure is on top of the current ongoing widening project for (nearby) N.C. 150, the major cross-town artery in Mooresville,” Beck wrote. “This action begs the question: ‘On what planet does NCDOT continue to live?’
“NCDOT cuts one main artery through the heart of Mooresville, while it is conducting major surgery on the other,” Beck said. “Is the intent to kill or in a major way inflict as much pain as it can?”
On its Brawley School Road widening page, NCDOT says:
“By prioritizing pedestrian safety and accessibility, the NCDOT underscores its commitment to fostering a more inclusive and pedestrian-friendly community environment. As construction continues, we look forward to enhanced mobility, connectivity, and overall quality of life in our community.”