CONCORD – As work continues on the Interstate 85 widening project, lane closures for the interstate are scheduled as bridge demolition work continues at Concord Lake Road and Main Street in Cabarrus County.
Contractor Blythe Construction will close one lane on I-85 South between exits 60 and 58 at 9 p.m. tonight. At midnight, all southbound lanes will be closed, detouring traffic at exit 60 (Dale Earnhardt Blvd.) to U.S. 29 South back to I-85. All lanes should open by 6 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 23.
On Thursday night, one lane will close on I-85 North at 9 p.m., starting at the Winecoff School Road overpass up to exit 58. All northbound lanes will shut down at midnight, detouring traffic at exit 55 (N.C. 73) to U.S. 29 North back to I-85. All lanes will open by 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 24.
One more highway shutdown is scheduled for northbound lanes between exits 55 and 58 at midnight Friday. Traffic will follow Thursday night’s detour along N.C. 73 and U.S. 29. All lanes will open by 6 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25.
In Rowan County, southbound I-85 motorists will encounter a closure later this week for the shifting of traffic into median lanes from mile markers 62 to 66.
N.C. Department of Transportation contractors will begin work at 9 p.m. on Friday, August 24, to shift traffic onto newly constructed median lanes. This work is scheduled to be complete by 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. A detour will be in place from midnight until 6 a.m. Saturday using U.S. 29 and Lane Street.
Law enforcement officers will be stationed along the detour to help traffic move safely through the area. Single lane closures will precede and follow the road closure.
The project overall involves replacing and rebuilding several bridges over I-85 to meet current design requirements and eliminate substandard clearances. The department is adding four travel lanes (two in each direction) to an 8-mile stretch of I-85 in Cabarrus and Rowan counties to improve traffic flow. The work will complete the expansion of I-85 through Cabarrus and Rowan counties. Without these improvements, traffic volumes are predicted to increase each year and exceed capacity by 2035.
Motorists are encouraged to pay attention when approaching the work zone, obey the posted speed limit, follow posted detours, and allow extra time to reach their destinations safely.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.