MATTHEWS – Contract crews will close East John Street under Interstate 485 Thursday night as part of the
I-485 express lanes project underway to add an express lane and deliver additional corridor improvements along Interstate 485 between I-77 and U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard).
The closure is needed to safely set girders for the median section of the widened bridges on the highway’s inner and outer loop over East John Street.
The closure will be in place from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday, weather permitting. Drivers exiting the inner or outer loop will be detoured along East John Street/Old Monroe Road and Pleasant Plains Road/Trade Street, returning to East John Street.
The project will also include these improvements:
- Adding one general purpose lane in each direction of I-485 between Rea Road and Providence Road
- Widening the bridge carrying Ballantyne Commons Parkway over I-485 in Charlotte
- Improving the interchange at John Street in Matthews
- Building an interchange at Weddington Road in Matthews
The State of North Carolina will own the I-485 express lanes. The N.C. Turnpike Authority and the N.C. Department of Transportation are leading the planning, construction, and maintenance of the lanes. All tolling, account management and toll collection customer service will be administered by the Turnpike Authority.
Drivers should be mindful of crews working in this location and allow extra time to reach their destination.