Flyover traffic bridge opens in time for holiday rush at this Charlotte-area mall
Just in time for Friday’s Black Friday shopping rush, the state opened a “flyover bridge” to ease congestion off Interstate 85 at Concord Mills mall.
The mall ranks as one of North Carolina’s largest attractions, according to Visit NC. Black Friday and its deals usher in the annual holiday shopping season.
Opened Wednesday afternoon, the two-lane bridge connects Concord Mills Boulevard to Kings Grant Pavilion, the first main mall entrance from I-85.
The bridge, for in-bound traffic only, replaces the left-turn lanes into the mall, according to a news release from the state Department of Transportation. That should ease longstanding bottlenecks on Concord Mills Boulevard, officials said.
Drivers exiting the mall now use three right-turn lanes from the main entrance to access Concord Mills Boulevard.
Signal work, final pavement markings and overall cleanup should be completed by sometime in spring, NCDOT officials said.
Because of the new traffic pattern, the state urges drivers to leave early and use caution.