CHARLOTTE – As weather permits, contract crews will be setting bridge girders on both sides of I-485 at Johnston Road, requiring intermittent lane and ramp closures and rolling road blocks each night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work is part of the I-485 express lanes project in southeast Charlotte.
The following closures are scheduled to allow crews to safely set girders for the new Johnston Road flyover bridge:
Monday night
Crews will be moving a crane into the gore area between the inner loop and the loop ramp from I-485 Inner to Johnston Road. To do this safely, the ramp will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., as well as the right lane on I-485 Inner.
Tuesday night
Crews will set two girders of the flyover bridge over the inner loop, installing a double left lane closure on the inner loop at 10 p.m. A left lane closure will be installed at the same time on the outer loop, as will a right lane closure on the flyover bridge.
At 11 p.m., the inner loop will be closed. Traffic will be detoured at the exit ramp to Johnston Road, continuing to N.C. 51 back onto the inner loop. The detour and all traffic control will be removed by 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Wednesday night
Intermittent lane closures will take place on the inner loop from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, and the loop ramp will be closed from the inner loop to Johnston Road from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. This will allow crews to set protections in place to keep any material from falling onto the interstate.
Thursday night
Two more bridge girders will be set on the second span of the flyover bridge, requiring a couple of 'slow rolls' on the outer loop.
At 10 p.m., crews will install a double left lane closure on the inner and outer loops, and a right lane closure on the flyover bridge.
At 11 p.m., the inner loop will close and drivers will be detoured at the Johnston Road exit, continuing to N.C. 51 and I-485. At the same time, crews will close the loop ramp from Johnston Road to the outer loop, and the loop ramp to Johnston road from the inner loop.
The 'slow roll' operations will occur at least two times between midnight and 4 a.m., lasting no more than 30 minutes each. All traffic control and closures will be removed by 6 a.m. Friday.
Drivers will have additional green time on detour routes to accommodate the heavier traffic volumes. People are encouraged to stay alert approaching work zones, reduce speed and use caution.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.