CHARLOTTE – N.C. Department of Transportation contract crews will temporarily close the exit ramp from I-77 South to the John Belk Freeway and Wilkinson Boulevard (exits 9A – C) as part of a $12.8 million improvement of the interstate between exits 5 and 10.
Starting tonight, the ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., continuing through Thursday night, Aug. 1, weather permitting. This will let crews safely mill and resurface ramps and collector lanes. If rain puts a halt to the work, it will be moved to the next night.
Drivers will be detoured from I-77 South to Clanton Road (exit 7), where they can proceed back to I-77 North or continue to West Boulevard.
The exit ramp from the I-277 inner loop to I-77 South will also be closed during these hours. Detour information will be online at
www.drivenc.gov, under Mecklenburg County.
The contract calls for milling and paving, repairing concrete, and installing pavement markings and snowplowable markers along the five-mile stretch.
The project also includes improvements to the northbound and southbound bridges at West Boulevard, as well as the bridge exiting I-77 South to West Boulevard. Crews will paint the bridges, replace bridge joints, perform repairs to the concrete deck and add a new deck overlay to smooth the ride for motorists.
Drivers are encouraged to slow down when approaching the work zone and to pay extra attention to construction and detour signs.