Interstate 85 near Charlotte to be widened. What we know about the $635M plans.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation plans to widen a clogged, 10-mile stretch of Interstate 85 west of Charlotte and will hold the first of two public meetings about the nearly $635 million project on Tuesday evening, Aug. 23.
Plans call for adding a lane in each direction from the U.S. 321 interchange in Gastonia, Exit 17, to the N.C. 273 interchange, Exit 27, in Mount Holly, according to the I-85 project page on NCDOT.gov.
That would expand the highway to a total of eight lanes.
Work is scheduled to begin in 2024 and end in 2030, officials said.
The 10-mile stretch not only connects Gastonia with other Gaston County cities and towns but is a prime commuter route in the Charlotte metro area.
Highway officials said the new lanes would help reduce longstanding congestion.
The project also would involve improving Interchanges and moving or replacing roadway and railroad bridges, officials said.
The first public meeting is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, in the Gaston College Kimbrell campus auditorium, 7220 Wilkinson Blvd. in Belmont.
The second public meeting is planned for 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, in the Gastonia Conference Center, 145 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Gastonia.
At the meetings, the public can offer input on the proposed design of the expansion, officials said. They also can view project details, submit comments and receive email updates through the NCDOT public input portal for the project.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 11:23 AM.