CHARLOTTE – The N.C. Department of Transportation is hosting a public, drop-in style meeting next week for people to learn more about a project in development to improve safety and traffic flow at the I-85/I-485 interchange in west Charlotte near the Gaston County line.
This area experiences congestion on a daily basis as approximately 150,000 vehicles travel on I-85 just west of I-485. Ramps from both directions of I-485 also come together from three lanes to one before merging to I-85 South, impacting the 32,000 vehicles that use these ramps every day.
The proposed improvements include:
- widening the existing bridge from I-485 to I-85 South
- building a new roadway along I-85 South to take traffic exiting I-485 to I-85 South
- building a new bridge on Sam Wilson Road over the new roadway
- relocating the existing Sam Wilson ramp to I-85
The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) submitted the project for funding consideration in 2018 and it was added to NCDOT's Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in 2019. The 2024-2023 STIP had allocated funding for preliminary engineering activities. In November 2023, the project became fully funded thanks to a $45 million allocation in contingency funds made available by the N.C. House, accelerating the project timeline by several years.
The meeting will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Feb. 8 at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 7327 Tuckaseegee Road. People may stop by anytime to discuss the project with NCDOT staff, but there will not be a formal presentation. More information and project maps are available on the project website.
People can submit comments by phone at 984-205-6615, code 6824, by email at I85-I485-westcharlotte@publicinput.com, or by mail to Radha Attaluri, NCDOT Project Manager, 1582 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1582. Comments will be collected through Feb. 27.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled people who wish to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Tony Gallagher at magallagher@ncdot.gov or 919-707-6069 as early as possible so arrangements can be made.
People who speak Spanish and have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.