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CHARLOTTE, NC – Thousands of residents in Steele Creek are bracing for a major traffic headache this week as the Charlotte Premium Outlets open for business.
People who live next door tell WCCB they’re expecting pandemonium as thousands flock to Thursday’s grand opening.
“The reality is, with growth comes growing pains,” said Charlotte Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield.
That’s not the answer Berewick residents want to hear less than 48 hours until the Charlotte Premium Outlets open for business.
“The traffic is going to be horrendous!” said Monica Lewis, a Steele Creek resident. Hundreds showed up Tuesday night in Steele Creek to ask questions to Charlotte city staff and Mayfield.
They’re concerned about shoppers using their neighborhood as a cut-through to avoid traffic on Steele Creek Road.
“People blow the stop signs and speed through the neighborhood, and it’s only going to get worse with more traffic,” said Nick White, a Steele Creek resident.
Residents are asking the city to consider adding speed bumps, more patrols and a gated access to the neighborhood. But there are no promises for the short term.
“Yes, for the next few months until Christmas, it’s going to be a lot of congestion, and I hope we have a lot of congestion because we want people to come in and shop because this is the first mall that has been built in the city since 2005,” said Mayfield.
Residents say it’s at the cost of their safety.
“I’m concerned about the people that are coming in on public transportation cutting through the community,” said Lewis
“We have windows ground level. Yeah, you have a security system and the police do a great job, but it’s a lot of area to cover and you’re adding more on to them,” said Mamie Jordan, a Steele Creek resident.
During the four-day opening, shuttles will take people from the Premium Outlets on Steel Creek Road at I-485 to overflow parking lots. Those lots are located on Dixie River Road and at the Shopton Road-Steele Creek Road intersection.
