Mecklenburg County pedestrian skybridge installation set for Feb. 8 over CATS Blue Line in north Charlotte

Installation work will temporarily alter light-rail operations early Sunday morning

Mecklenburg County is scheduled to begin installing a pedestrian skybridge over the LYNX Blue Line in north Charlotte on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, a project expected to require a short period of modified rail operations during the early morning hours.

The skybridge is planned to be installed over the Blue Line between the Sugar Creek and Old Concord stations. Transit officials have described the work as complex and governed by safety requirements that affect how trains can operate while crews position and secure bridge components above the active rail corridor.

What riders should expect during the work window

During the installation, CATS plans to single-track portions of the Blue Line and use a “bus bridge” to maintain service for riders traveling through the affected segment. The bus bridge is scheduled to operate from about 4:30 a.m. until approximately 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Normal Blue Line rail service is expected to continue between the I-485 Station and the 36th Street Station. The temporary bus service is intended to cover the portion of the line between 36th Street and the UNC Charlotte area stations while installation-related restrictions are in place.

• Work location: Blue Line corridor between Sugar Creek and Old Concord stations
• Service change period: roughly 4:30 a.m. to about 7 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8
• Service plan: single-tracking in the corridor and bus bridging to supplement rail service
• Normal rail operations: expected between I-485 and 36th Street stations

Why the date matters: a prior installation plan was postponed

The Feb. 8 installation schedule follows a previously planned skybridge installation that was postponed because of forecast inclement weather. The updated schedule keeps the same overall operating concept—early-morning work paired with temporary bus bridging—to reduce exposure to peak ridership periods while maintaining a continuous travel option for riders.

How to prepare before traveling

Riders traveling early Sunday should allow extra time and plan for transfers between rail and buses in the affected segment. CATS has directed riders to published bus bridge stop locations and customer service channels for trip planning support and real-time guidance.

For riders, the most significant operational impact is expected to be the brief early-morning window when bus bridging is used to maintain service continuity during the overhead installation work.

CATS customer service is available at 704-366-7433 for riders with questions about routing, stop locations, or accessibility needs during the service change.