ABSTRACT
Charlotte I-85 Design-Build, NC
Brian Webb, Construction Manager, Blythe Construction
Ron Graham, Resident Engineer, NCDOT
Elham Farzam, P.E., Design Manager, LPA Group
Presented: Thursday, May 13
10:00 am - 10:45 am
The I-85 project involves widening the interstate from south of the US 29/NC 49 Connector in Mecklenburg County to Speedway/Concord Mills Boulevard in Cabarrus County, a distance of approximately 8.3 miles. I-85 will be widened to eight through lanes with a 22-foot median from the end of the existing eight-lane section south of the US 29/NC 49 Connector to I-485. I-85 will be widened to three lanes northbound and four lanes southbound from I-485 to Speedway/Concord Mills Boulevard. The proposed widening between I-485 and Speedway/Concord Mills Boulevard is intended as an interim improvement, a future project will widen I-85 to eight or more lanes.
The proposed additional lanes will be added to the median of I-85. One auxiliary lane per direction (for a total of ten lanes) will be added to the outside of I-85 between several interchanges within the project limits. In addition to the proposed widening of I-85, the existing US 29/NC 49 Connector entrance ramp onto southbound I-85 will be reconfigured from a left-hand entrance ramp to a right-hand entrance ramp. Cameras, fiber-optic cable, vehicle detection systems and overhead dynamic message signs will also be installed along I-85 as a part of this project. These detection devices will be connected with the Metrolina Regional Transportation Center.
Currently, the I-85 project is over 50% complete and scheduled to be 100% complete in May 2005.
