CONCORD – As work continues on the Interstate
85 widening project in Cabarrus County, N.C. Department of
Transportation contract crews this week are scheduling lane closures in both
directions to prepare the opening of additional travel lanes.
Starting
tonight at 9 p.m., crews will close one lane on I-85 South from mile marker 62
to 60. Then all southbound lanes will close at 11:30 p.m. from mile marker 60
to 58. Motorists will be detoured at Dale Earnhardt Boulevard (exit 60),
heading west to U.S. 29/601 South, returning to I-85.
On
Tuesday, Oct. 30, one southbound lane will close from mile marker 64 to 63 at 9
p.m. All southbound lanes will close at 11:30 p.m., from mile marker 63 to 60,
requiring a detour at Lane Street (Exit 63). Drivers will proceed to U.S.
29/601 South, then to N.C. 3 East, back to I-85.
For
the rest of the week, lane closures will help crews stripe the outside lanes on
I-85 North for a future traffic shift and opening of additional travel lanes.
Lane closures will be in place Wednesday through Friday nights, Oct. 31- Nov. 2,
from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting at the north end of the project at mile marker
63, and moving south each night.
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 project also involves
replacing and rebuilding several bridges over I-85 to meet current design
requirements and eliminate substandard clearances.
The work will
complete the expansion of I-85 through those two counties. Without these
improvements, traffic volumes are predicted to increase each year and exceed roadway
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.