Workers lay fresh asphalt at the intersection of N.C. 115 and Catawba Avenue in downtown Cornelius this week. (David Boraks photo)

Workers this week are building new turn lanes and reconfiguring the intersection of N.C. 115 and Catawba Avenue in Cornelius as they move closer to completion of the Catawba extension. But Cornelius officials say it could late March or early April before the extension is open for traffic across the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and into the Antiquity Cornelius development.

Doug Barrick, the town of Cornelius project manager, told DavidsonNews.net Thursday that most of the intersection work, including new turn lanes and other reconfigurations, should be done by the end of this month. “We should have most of the infrastructure done by the end of the year,” Mr. Barrick said, including curbs and gutters, the rail crossing pavement.

Still in the works is the actually railroad crossing on the extended Catawba Avenue. “The biggest hiccup has been the installation of the mast-arm poles (railroad crossing gate) and coordination of the traffic signals with DOT and Norfolk Southern,” he said.

Railroad and state DOT officials still must agree on a final rail crossing signal plan, then the crossing gates will be ordered. That could take 30 to 60 days, Mr. Barrick said. Also yet to come is a final layer of asphalt on the intersection.

He said he expects the intersection could open by late March or early April.

In October, officials had estimated that the intersection and Catawba extension could be open by year’s end.

(See our Nov. 2 story, “Jan. 1 opening expected for new Cornelius intersection.”)