LANDIS – The Interstate 85 widening project in Rowan County reached a significant turning point Friday as the highway opened to four lanes in each direction.
This marks substantial completion of the larger project to widen 8 miles of I-85 in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. The Cabarrus portion, spanning from north of N.C. 73 to north of Lane Street, was set in its final traffic pattern in December 2018.
The 5.9-mile Rowan County section between Moose Road and the old U.S. 29/U.S. 601/I-85 connector consisted of four lanes since 1968. Construction on doubling that capacity began in the fall of 2016. The work took place under traffic shifts, with most of the widening occurring in the median.
The $159 million project in Rowan County also included constructing a new interchange for Old Beatty Ford Road, interchange improvements at N.C. 152/I-85 (Exit 68) and the N.C. 152/U.S. 29/U.S. 601 connector, and several bridges. The Old Beatty Ford Road interchange is scheduled to open after a ribbon cutting Tuesday morning.
Though this project is now mostly complete, drivers should still expect temporary lane closures throughout the work zone. There is still a considerable amount of work left before the scheduled project closeout date of June 2020.