CHARLOTTE – The North Carolina Department of Transportation and Turnpike Authority are hosting an I-485 Express Lanes open house later this month to give people an opportunity to meet the project team before construction begins on the critical corridor this summer.
As a way to offer drivers the option of more reliable travel times, plans are being implemented in the Charlotte area on the I-485 Express Lanes project at the request of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization. The project will add an express lane in the median in each direction on I-485 between I-77 and U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) to improve traffic flow in this critical transportation corridor. One general purpose lane will also be added to I-485 in each direction between Rea Road and Providence Road. None of the existing lanes will be tolled.
To further improve traffic flow in the corridor, three other projects will also be built in conjunction with the I-485 Express Lanes. These include:
- Widening Ballantyne Commons Parkway Bridge in Charlotte;
- Building a new interchange at Weddington Road in Matthews; and
- Improving the John Street interchange in Matthews.
The State of North Carolina will own the I-485 Express Lanes. The Turnpike Authority and NCDOT are managing the planning, construction, operations and maintenance of the express lanes. Customer service, toll collection and account management will be administered by the Turnpike Authority's NC Quick Pass program
On Thursday, June 27, from noon to 7 p.m. at the Endhaven Elementary School, 6815 Endhaven Lane in Charlotte, NCDOT and the Turnpike Authority representatives will hold an open house-style meeting. Interested residents are invited to stop by anytime during the meeting hours to learn more about the project and ask questions. Updated information on noise wall locations will be available later this year.
For anyone unable to stop by the open house, visit https://publicinput.com/I-485-Charlotte to offer comments on the project.
Construction is anticipated to begin this summer, with the project expected to open to traffic in 2022.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in these meetings. Anyone requiring special services should contact Diane Wilson, senior public involvement officer at pdwilson1@ncdot.gov or (919) 707-6073.