NCDOT recommends safety changes to dangerous stretch of Independence Blvd.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The state is looking at a dangerous corridor in East Charlotte after multiple Channel 9 investigations.

Since Channel 9 first started investigating the dangers of Independence Boulevard in 2017, five more people have died. Now the state is releasing the results of a new study into the stretch of road between Interstate 277 in uptown and Interstate 485 in Matthews.

Our cameras have caught pedestrians running across the street in front of cars, jumping over median walls and even riding hoverboards in traffic.

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After our investigations, questions from city leaders and complaints from drivers, NCDOT launched a study of the dangers in the summer of 2019, just months after our last report on the problems. Now the state is using it to guide future projects on Independence Boulevard.

“As those projects move forward, whether it’s light rail or other roadway improvement projects, we would like for those efforts to reference this study,” said Brian Mayhew, with NCDOT.

His team interviewed bus drivers, talked with police and even witnessed people running across the road themselves. Ultimately they agreed that this is a big problem.

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“There are many places to cross along independence. But if you’re a pedestrian, and you’re, you’re needing to cross independence in some places there, it would probably be ideal for there to be more frequent crossing opportunities,” Mayhew said.

The plan is to build five new bridges across the road where people can safely cross. Those are highlighted in purple on the map below. They are targeted for areas where people cross most often.

This is in addition to a half dozen crossings that are already planned. Those are highlighted in red. But all the new crossings are contingent on the Silver Line light rail expansion out to Matthews, and the toll lanes planned for Independence.

NCDOT recommends safety changes to dangerous stretch of Independence Blvd. (WSOC)

Another recommendation is to build higher barriers in the middle of the road. Right now, the barriers vary in height. The study recommends making them all 60 inches high to deter people from trying to cross.

“It’s possible that when pedestrians see the barrier, height, dip or decrease, that may influence a decision to cross,” Mayhew said.

All of the recommendations will be considered in future design phases on Independence Boulevard.