Benefits
- Improve mobility, access, and connectivity in southern Gaston County between southern Gaston County and Mecklenburg County.
- Improve traffic flow on the sections of I-85, US 29-74, and US 321 in the project study area.
- Improve high-speed, safe, reliable regional travel services along the I-85 corridor.
- Trips across Gaston County are expected to be nearly 10 minutes shorter while trips into Charlotte are shaved by 20-30 minutes.
- Construction of the Garden Parkway will take 4 years to complete and employ over 2,600 individuals. Just the construction of the Parkway will take job growth numbers out of the negative and into the positive column.
Garden Parkway means 18,000 jobs for Gaston County, says economic study
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| Dr. Connaughton presenting Parkway economic impact study results at Gaston College Kimbrell Campus. |
Building the Garden Parkway could mean almost 18,000 more jobs for Gaston County in the next 25 years, UNCC economist Dr. John Connaughton reported Tuesday to local economic development officials. Connaughton has just completed a study on the economic impact of the parkway.
The Montcross Area Chamber Board of Directors has adopted two resolutions in support of the Parkway, which would provide a southern Gaston County connection to Charlotte across the Catawba River.
Dr. Connaughton sited Gaston County's relative isolation from Charlotte as one of the major reasons Gaston lags other nearby counties such as Cabarrus, Union and York in population and job growth. Gaston County has lost jobs over the past 25 years, while the other counties have seen major increases. He said building the Garden Parkway would be "transformational" for Gaston County in its efforts to reverse that trend over the next 25 years.
More highlights from by Dr. Connaughton's study:
- Parkway construction jobs in Gaston over four years - 2,600
- With the Parkway, Gaston County employment in 2035 is projected at 106,955; without the Parkway, 89,127.
- Parkway construction impact on Gaston County in 2012 projected at $266,911,891.
- A difference of nearly 18,000 jobs.
- Economic impact of parkway construction on Gaston County is projected at $266million per year for the 4 year construction period.





