CHARLOTTE – N.C. Department of Transportation crews will be conducting survey work at interchanges as part of the I-485 express lanes project, which will add an express lane in each direction between I-77 and U.S. 74. The $346 million project was awarded to Blythe Construction in October 2018.
The project will also include the following improvements:
- Adding one general purpose lane in each direction of I-485 between Rea Road and Providence Road
- Widening the bridge carrying Ballantyne Commons Parkway over I-485 in Charlotte
- Improving the interchange at John Street in Matthews
- Building an interchange at Weddington Road in Matthews
Ramp closures will be in place beginning Monday, March 18. Each ramp will close at midnight and open by 5 a.m. the next day. The interchanges include:
- March 18 – entrance ramp from John Street to the Inner Loop
- March 20, 21, 22 – entrance ramp from Johnston Road to the Inner Loop
The State of North Carolina will own the I-485 express lanes. The N.C. Turnpike Authority and the N.C. Department of Transportation are leading the planning, construction and maintenance of the lanes. All tolling, account management and toll collection customer service will be administered by the Turnpike Authority.
Construction is anticipated to begin this summer and the project is expected to open to traffic in late 2022.