South Charlotte drivers can expect to use the long-awaited I-485 toll lanes this winter, nearly five years after construction began.
The $346 million project, which started in 2019, adds express lanes and general-purpose lanes aimed at reducing traffic and improving travel times.
The I-485 lanes stem from the 2007 Fast Lane Study, which identified highways most in need of congestion relief.
Once complete, the project will feature one express lane in each direction between I-77 and Independence Boulevard, plus a new general-purpose lane between Rea Road and Providence Road in the Ballantyne and Waverly/Rea Farms areas.
Drivers will also gain direct access to the express lanes from new interchanges at Westinghouse Boulevard and Johnston Road.
Additional improvements include:
-
Ballantyne Commons bridge widening, set for completion by mid-spring
-
Weddington Road widening, expected by late summer or early fall
-
John Street widening, planned for fall to improve traffic flow at nearby ramps
Originally budgeted at $289.5 million, costs have climbed due to added scope and pandemic-related delays, including labor shortages and supply chain issues.
This becomes Charlotte’s third major toll project, following the I-77 toll lanes to Lake Norman and the toll lanes on the new Monroe Expressway.
