Interstate 85 near Charlotte to undergo $337 million expansion, NCDOT says
A Charlotte-based road builder will expand four congested, wreck-prone miles of Interstate 85 near the Queen City for $337 million, state highway officials said Friday.
Lane Construction Corp. was selected to widen I-85 from six to eight lanes with a 26-foot median between N.C. 7 exit 23 in Mount Holly and N.C. 273 exit 27 near the Catawba River in Belmont, according to an N.C. Department of Transportation news release.
A lane in each direction will be added, and six bridges will be replaced or improved, officials said.
The bridges are on N.C. 7 over I-85; I-85 over the South Fork Catawba River; Hickory Grove Road over I-85; Belmont-Mt. Holly Road/Main Street over I-85; P&R Railway over I-85, east of Belmont-Mt. Holly Road; and N.C. 273 over I-85
The intersection of N.C. 7/U.S. 29/U.S. 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard) will be redesigned to reduce wrecks, according to NCDOT.
Widening I-85 to U.S. 321
Design work has started, and construction is scheduled for next summer, officials said.
NCDOT eventually plans to expand the interstate to U.S. 321 in Gastonia, totaling about 10 miles of widening and other improvements.
In late 2028, the department intends to advertise for bids on the segment from McAdenville Road exit 23 to the U.S. 321 interchange exit 17, officials said. The intersection of Cox Road and U.S. 29-74/Franklin Boulevard will be improved.
A contractor and designer are working on plans for three railroad bridges and a roadway bridge through the section.
NCDOT first revealed plans for the 10-mile widening in August 2022.
This story was originally published July 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM.