In October 2002, the North Carolina General Assembly established a law creating the North Carolina Turnpike Authority. The North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) is authorized to study, develop, construct, operate, and maintain up to nine toll roads in the state. The law prohibits the North Carolina Turnpike Authority from tolling existing roads. In February 2005, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority Board selected four projects for study. The Gaston East-West Connector is one of these candidate toll roads.

It is not known at this stage of the project exactly which properties, and how much of each property, would be needed to construct the proposed project. After a Preferred Alternative is selected, final design of the project can begin. A Design Public Hearing will then be held. At that hearing, the properties likely to be affected by the project will be known.

After a preferred alternative is selected, final design of the project can begin. A Design Public Hearing will then be held. At that hearing, the properties likely to be affected by the project will be known.

The NCTA/NCDOT pays fair market value for all property purchased. Licensed real estate appraisers determine a fair market value. This is the same type of appraisal that is required when selling, buying, or refinancing a house. For more information regarding right of way issues, please call the NCDOT's Right-of-Way Branch at (919) 733-7932.

No one should need to move as a direct result of this project before the start of Right-of-Way acquisition, which is not currently scheduled. If your home or business is purchased, you will have a minimum of 90 days to move from the time you receive payment and the real property transaction is closed.

Yes, this is required by State law.

You may continue to maintain your property and make improvements. Only you can decide when (or if) to make improvements. One thing to keep in mind: If your property is purchased for the project, you will be paid the fair market value appraised at the time of purchase.

The decision to build a noise wall is based on criteria, policies, and guidance published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and NCDOT. If your property is projected to experience future project- generated noise levels that approach or exceed the FHWA criteria for residential property (66 dBA Leq or above), then a noise wall will be considered. The noise wall must be reasonable, feasible, cost-effective, and able to provide at least 5 decibels of noise reduction. Potential locations for noise walls will be identified at the Corridor Public Hearing. Further analyses of the feasibility and constructability of the identified potential noise walls will occur during final design and results presented at the Design Public Hearing.

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA), the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will select the Preferred Alternative and approve the final design of the roadway. Their decisions will be based on the results described in the Environmental Impact Statement and input received from citizens and governmental agencies (local officials, State environmental agencies, Federal agencies).

Public meetings are announced on this website, in newspapers, and in direct mailings to area residents.

Any agency that proposes a project involving federal funds must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Under the NEPA, an agency must study the adverse and beneficial environmental impacts of all reasonable alternatives that meet a project's purpose and need and must identify the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative (LEDPA). This process involves engineering studies, environmental analyses, and public involvement. On a project as large as this one, this process (outlined on the Planning Process page on this website) may take several years.

Future traffic is projected using a computer model that was developed to replicate existing conditions and expanded to include new highway or highway improvements planned to be built by a specific year. These complex computer models also contain data for existing and anticipated land uses. The computerized traffic models are developed using standard practices and are updated as new data becomes available. The traffic model used to project future traffic for the Gaston County East-West Connector includes existing roadways such as I-85 and US 29-74 and local estimates of the future numbers of people expected to live, work, and shop in various geographic areas.