Interstate 485
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Location | ||
Country | United States | |
State | North Carolina | |
Counties | Mecklenburg | |
Highway system | ||
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Interstate 485 (I-485) is a 66.68-mile-long (107.31 km)
A beltway for the Charlotte metropolitan area was first proposed in the mid-1970s, with the first section opening in 1990. The beltway was completed in stages over the next several decades, with completion of the last segment of the highway on June 5, 2015.[2]
Route description
I-485 travels 66.68 miles (107.31 km) around the city of Charlotte, with milemarkers beginning/ending at the
The southwest segment is six lanes throughout, on
Although the loop runs within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the South Carolina state line, and, within 20 feet (6.1 m) of the Cabarrus County line at the Rocky River Road exit, the entire beltway is within Mecklenburg County's boundaries and never crosses into South Carolina or any neighboring counties. I-485 is Charlotte's only "true" loop road as both I-277 and Route 4 are partial ring roads.
Orientation and signage
Since I-485 is a beltway, the compass orientation of the freeway is not uniform around the loop. To remedy the uniformity issue, the
Traffic traveling in a
There are three control cities along the route: Huntersville, Matthews, and Pineville. Secondary control cities, which include Spartanburg, Statesville, Greensboro, and Columbia, are also listed at various interchanges for travelers that want to bypass Charlotte to other destinations, via I-77 and I-85.
Dedicated and memorial names
I-485 in North Carolina is split into four dedicated or memorialized stretches of freeway:
- Seddon "Rusty" Goode Freeway: The official name of the southwest section, from milemarkers 0 to 10. Seddon Goode served on the transportation board in Mecklenburg County and helped bring I-485 as a reality. It was approved on March 7, 1997.[7]
- Craig Lawing Freeway: The official name of the northwest section, named for W. Craig Lawing from milemarkers 10 to 23 that was approved on February 2, 2001.[7]
- H. Allen Tate Jr. Highway: The official name of the northeast section, from milemarkers 23 to 31. It was named after the founder of Allen Tate Realtors and was dedicated on March 27, 2015.[8][9]
- Doctor Jay M. Robinson Freeway: It was the official name of the northeast section, from 2001 to 2015 and named after a former superintendent of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system.[7] Approved on January 5, 2001, it was never signed; when this section was finally constructed in 2015, it was redesignated to honor H. Allen Tate Jr.[8]
- Governor James G. Martin Freeway: The official name of the southeast section, from milemarkers 31 to 67. It was named in honor of Governor James G. Martin who served North Carolina from 1985 to 1993 and was approved on December 4, 1993.[7]
History
The first section of what became I-485 was completed around 1967, connecting a newly opened section of I-85 with US 29 near the Cabarrus–Mecklenburg county line.[10][11] This section became a part of I-485 on May 5, 1999, the first section of the highway on the north end of the county.[12]
In 1975, planning began for the Charlotte outerbelt.[13]
On July 8, 1988, Governor
A $67.2-million (equivalent to $125 million in 2023[17]) 2.6-mile (4.2 km) section of I-485 from US 521 to I-77 opened October 24, 1994. The section included a four-level interchange, the first and only in North Carolina, at its junction with I-77.[18] On December 9, 1994, the section from NC 51 to Rea Road opened.[19]
On July 1, 1997, a $13.9-million (equivalent to $24.5 million in 2023
On August 15, 1997, 2.3 miles (3.7 km) of I-485 opened between Rea Road and
In May 1999, the original segment between I-85 and US 29 (North Tryon Street) was widened and rebuilt to
In 2003, the last 12.5 miles (20.1 km) needed to link main I-485 to its northern stub was completed, at a cost of $55.4 million (equivalent to $88 million in 2023[17]). Opening in two phases, the first 7.5-mile (12.1 km) segment opened on September 3, 2003, between University City Boulevard and NC 27 (Albemarle Road); two months later, the second five-mile (8.0 km) segment opened on November 19, between Albemarle Road and Lawyers Road.[27][13] By end of 2003, I-485 was one continuous 37-mile (60 km) freeway between I-85 (near Concord) to Arrowood Road.
On October 19, 2004, I-485 was widened, from four to six lanes between I-77/US 21 and Arrowood Road, and extended between Arrowood Road and I-85 (near Belmont). Completion of the $100-million (equivalent to $155 million in 2023
The final segment, from I-77 to I-85 near the
Since 2003, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) made sure that future segments of I-485 were designed with a minimum of six travel lanes. While the first segments of I-485 were already choked by traffic, thanks to Charlotte's rapid growth, NCDOT could not immediately deal with the issue thanks to a 2000 policy that prevented the state using trust fund money, a major source of funding for new projects, to widen existing roads.[16] Eventually, NCDOT was able to allocate new funds for a widening project, between US 521 (Johnston Road) and I-77/US 21, which was slated for construction in 2012.[35] On November 18, 2011, NCDOT changed the plans with an extension of the widening project to Rea Road and additional space allocated for a future toll lane, between Johnston Road and I-77/US 21.[36] Construction on the modified widening project began in 2013; at a cost of $83.3 million (equivalent to $105 million in 2023[17]), the 9.2-mile (14.8 km) widening project was completed in December 2015.[37]
On January 15, 2017, the Oakdale Road interchange (exit 18) was opened to traffic, existing previously as a graded future interchange since 2008.[38]
Future
This section needs to be updated.(January 2018) |
Since November 18, 2011, NCDOT has made plans for future toll lanes along I-485. Modifying an already planned widening project between US 521 (Johnston Road) and I-77/US 21, it called on a future toll lane to be constructed as well as extending the widening project towards Rea Road. The future toll lanes, when completed would be between US 74 (Independence Boulevard) and I-77/US 21; in April 2014, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) adopted the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), which included establishing toll lanes along I-485.[39] The first segment of the new toll lanes, between Johnston Road and I-77/US 21, were completed in December 2015 but were not opened.[35][36] The new unopen lanes along I-485 became controversial and discussions were made about making it a high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV lane), or at least temporally; however, local and state officials said that could not be done and would cost more for just temporary use of the lanes.[40][41]
At a cost of $202.9 million, the 16.6-mile (26.7 km) I-485 Express Lanes project will establish new toll lanes along its entire planned route. It will also include the following improvements: adding additional general purpose lanes between Providence Road and Rea Road, extending auxiliary lanes between Independence Boulevard and East John Street, establishing dedicated connectors from the Express Lanes to Johnston Road (eastbound only) and Westinghouse Boulevard (westbound only), and incorporating the existing planned project of adding a new interchange at Weddington Road. Tolls would be collected using an
Exit list
Milemarker numbering along the loop freeway goes in a
The entire route is in Mecklenburg County.
Location | mi[44] | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tryon Street ) | |||||
3.0 | 4.8 | 3 | Arrowood Road | ||
4.4 | 7.1 | 4 | NC 160 (Steele Creek Road) – Fort Mill | Partial cloverleaf interchange | |
| 6.0 | 9.7 | 6 | West Boulevard | |
| 9.4 | 15.1 | 9 | US 29 / US 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard) – CLT Airport | Exit is part of exit 10 southbound |
| 10.0 | 16.1 | 10 | I-85 – Greensboro, Spartanburg | Signed as exits 10A (north) and 10B (south) on exit collector lanes; stack interchange |
Charlotte | 11.8 | 19.0 | 12 | Moores Chapel Road | Double roundabout interchange |
13.0 | 20.9 | 14 | NC 27 (Mount Holly Road) | ||
15.4 | 24.8 | 16 | NC 16 (Brookshire Boulevard) – Newton | Partial cloverleaf interchange | |
17.2 | 27.7 | 18 | Oakdale Road | ||
20.3 | 32.7 | 21 | Northlake Mall | ||
Huntersville | 22.0 | 35.4 | 23 | I-77 – Charlotte, Statesville | Signed as exits 23A (south) and 23B (north) outbound |
23.0 | 37.0 | 23C | NC 115 (Old Statesville Road) | ||
Charlotte | 25.4 | 40.9 | 26 | Prosperity Ridge Road / Prosperity Church Road / Benfield Road | Double roundabout interchange |
27.5 | 44.3 | 28 | Mallard Creek Road | Diverging diamond interchange | |
28.4 | 45.7 | 30 | I-85 – Greensboro, Charlotte | Turbine interchange | |
30.6 | 49.2 | 32 | Partial cloverleaf interchange; to Charlotte Motor Speedway | ||
32.2 | 51.8 | 33 | NC 49 (University City Boulevard) – Harrisburg | To UNC Charlotte | |
| 34.7 | 55.8 | 36 | Rocky River Road | |
| 37.5 | 60.4 | 39 | Harrisburg Road | |
Mint Hill | 38.4 | 61.8 | 41 | NC 24 / NC 27 (Albemarle Road) – Albemarle | |
40.4 | 65.0 | 43 | NC 51 (Blair Road) – Mint Hill | ||
42.2 | 67.9 | 44 | NC 218 (Fairview Road) – Mint Hill | ||
44.1 | 71.0 | 47 | Lawyers Road | ||
Matthews | 46.3 | 74.5 | 49 | Idlewild Road | |
47.1 | 75.8 | 51 | US 74 (Independence Boulevard) – Charlotte, Monroe | Signed as exits 51A (west) and 51B (east) | |
— | I-485 inner (Express Lanes) | Future terminus of I-485 Express lanes | |||
50.4 | 81.1 | 52 | East John Street – Matthews, Stallings, Indian Trail | ||
53 | Weddington Road | Future interchange (funded, scheduled to begin construction in 2020)[45] | |||
Charlotte | 54.1 | 87.1 | 57 | NC 16 (Providence Road) – Weddington | Partial cloverleaf interchange |
56.2 | 90.4 | 59 | Rea Road | Partial cloverleaf interchange | |
59.4 | 95.6 | 61 | US 521 south (Johnston Road) | Signed as exits 61A (north) and 61B (south) inbound; to Ballantyne; northern terminus of US 521 | |
— | Future interchange; outbound exit and inbound entrance, express lanes only | ||||
Pineville | 61.4 | 98.8 | 64 | NC 51 (Pineville-Matthews Road) – Pineville, Matthews | Signed as exits 64A (north) and 64B (south); partial cloverleaf interchange; to Carolina Place Mall |
64.2 | 103.3 | 65 | South Boulevard / North Polk Street – US 521 north | ||
Charlotte | — | Westinghouse Boulevard | Future interchange; express lanes only | ||
67.6 | 108.8 | — | I-485 outer (Express Lanes) | Future terminus of I-485 Express lanes | |
67 | Stack interchange; I-85 signed inbound | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
- Carowinds
- I-485 / South Boulevard (LYNX station)
References
- ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ "NCDOT Announces Opening Date for Final Segment of I-485" (Press release). North Carolina Department of Transportation. May 13, 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ^ "NCDOT Implementing 70 MPH Speed Limit on I-485 Outer Loop" (Press release). North Carolina Department of Transportation. May 14, 2015. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
- ^ a b "I-485 Outer / Wilkinson Blvd sign picture". www.interstate-guide.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Dr. Traffic (May 14, 2006). "Making heads or tails of inner, outer loops". The Charlotte Observer.[page needed]
- ^ "State has new way to identify location on I-485". Charlotte, NC: WSOC-TV. March 7, 2005. Archived from the original on November 11, 2006. Retrieved December 1, 2006.
- ^ a b c d "North Carolina Memorial Highways and other Named Facilities" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 29, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
- ^ Time Warner Cable News. Archivedfrom the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
- ^ "Final Segment of I-485 Named for Entrepreneur and Longtime Transportation Advocate Allen Tate" (Press release). North Carolina Department of Transportation. March 27, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
- ^ O'Brien, Gary (August 28, 1996). "Clearing the Way". 'The Charlotte Observer. p. 2M.
- ^ Lyttle, Steve (June 1, 2013). "2 Meck bridges among NC's 'substandard". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
- ^ a b Whitacre, Dianne (May 6, 1999). "Stretch of Road Part of a Larger Step". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1C.
- ^ a b Whitacre, Dianne (November 20, 2003). "I-485 Arc Takes Shape to Bypass Charlotte". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A.
- ^ Curry, Kathleen (July 9, 1988). "Outerbelt Dubbed I-485: Construction on Road Project Officially Under Way". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (November 11, 1990). "I-485's Opening Unclogs Traffic at Intersection, Not in Heart of Pineville". The Charlotte Observer. p. 4 (Mecklenburg Neighbors).
- ^ a b Whitacre, Dianne (May 13, 2003). "Rules Delay Widening Busiest I-485 Stretch". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A.
- ^ Gross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ Norwood, Allen (October 25, 1994). "Open for Business: Ribbon Cut on Newest I-485 Section". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A.
- ^ Norwood, Allen (December 2, 1994). "Bracing As the Outerbelt Advances". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (July 2, 1997). "Charlotte's Outerbelt Adds Link to NC 49". The Charlotte Observer. p. 2C.
- ^ Horan, Jack & LaPolla, Joie (August 15, 1997). "A Welcome Link: New Section of Outerbelt a Big Deal for Union County". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1C.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (August 28, 1998). "1.4-Mile Stretch of I-485 Opens from NC 49 to Steele Creek". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1C.
- ^ Gomlak, Norman; LaPolla, Joie (September 14, 1997). "New I-485 Link: Life in the Faster Lane". The Charlotte Observer. p. 4U.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (August 13, 1999). "I-485 Leg Opens Today, But Will Traffic Come?". The Charlotte Observer. p. 5C.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (December 16, 1999). "Filling in the Belt's Gaps". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1C.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (June 7, 2000). "I-485 Reaches Mint Hill". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (September 3, 2003). "Opening Today Adds 7.5 Miles to Eastern I-485". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
- ^ Whitacre, Dianne (October 20, 2004). "Outerbelt Section Opens to Cheers, Parade of Cars". The Charlotte Observer. p. 2B.
- ^ Rubin, Richard (December 16, 2006). "Outerbelt Giveth, and Taketh Away". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
- ^ Song, Jenny (May 10, 2007). "Next Exit: Even More Growth along I-485". The Charlotte Observer.[page needed]
- ^ Harrison, Steve (December 3, 2008). "Newest I-485 Section to Open". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1B.
- ^ "$1.2 Million Contract Awarded to Complete I-485 Interchange in Mecklenburg County" (Press release). North Carolina Department of Transportation. September 22, 2010. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ^ "I-485 Charlotte Outer Loop". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ^ "Charlotte company awarded contract for I-485 completion". Charlotte, NC: WCNC-TV. June 3, 2010. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ^ a b "Project R-4902". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on January 9, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
- ^ a b "NC considers adding toll lane to I-485". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved November 18, 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Penland, Brittany (December 2, 2012). "Ballantyne widening of I-485 starts in new year". The Charlotte Observer. p. 4B.
- ^ "Oakdale/I-485 interchange open for drivers ahead of Tuesday commute". Charlotte, NC: WBTV. January 18, 2017. Archived from the original on March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.
- ^ a b "NCDOT: I-485 Express Lanes". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ St. Onge, Peter (January 23, 2015). "An open mind on closed I-485 lane". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ Harrison, Steve (January 5, 2016). "Vote signals Charlotte City Council support for toll lanes". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "SPOT ID: H128073" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. May 29, 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "I-5507 / R-0211EC / U-4714AB Project Synopsis" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ Google (July 20, 2012). "Overview map of I-485 (Western Half)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
- ^ Sullivan, Karen. "Oakdale Road interchange takes shape on I-485". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
External links
- Media related to Interstate 485 (North Carolina) at Wikimedia Commons
- NCRoads.com: I-485