KANNAPOLIS – The city and the state are working on a $1.6 million project to take Lane Street down from four lanes to two, with new bike lanes and center medians.

Kannapolis and the N.C. Department of Transportation are working to improve and beautify the Lane Street corridor, according to a city press release. The state roadway is one of the city’s major gateways.

After reviewing accidents and issues with sight distances along the corridor, the state began studying ways to improve safety for motorists and cyclists.

The four-lane undivided roadway will be converted to a two-lane street with bike lanes, landscaped center medians and turning lanes, from the intersection of Main Street to the Interstate 85 exit.

A traffic island with a traffic signal will be installed at the Ruth Avenue intersection and a traffic signal will be also be added at the China Grove Road intersection.

Gateway signs will be added to the Lane Street intersection in conjunction with the I-85 widening project.

The city will contribute approximately $100,000 to add landscaping in the traffic island. NCDOT will contribute $1,575,000 for the project, which is expected to begin in 2017.