Update: Lane closings on I-85 delayed until tonight, Sunday

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 9, 2013

Update: The contractor was unable to complete the traffic shift on I-85 North lastnight.
Crews have scheduled the shift from George Liles Parkway to the north end of the project to begin tonight at 9 p.m., weather permitting.
The exit and entrance ramps at I-85 and N.C. 73 will close from 9 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. Saturday, May 11.
The second traffic shift scheduled for Saturday night will begin at 9 p.m. Sunday on I-85 North between Poplar Tent Road and George Liles Parkway.
The exit and entrance ramps at I-85 and Poplar Tent Road will close from 9 p.m. Sunday, May 12, until 6 a.m. Monday, May 13.

The N.C. Department of Transportation is preparing for several traffic shifts on I-85 North in Concord as part of the 6.8-mile I-85 widening project, improving I-85 from four to eight lanes from south of Bruton Smith Boulevard (Exit 49) to north of N.C. 73. These shifts will take place from Poplar Tent Road (Exit 52) to north of N.C. 73 (Exit 55), beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, weather permitting.
Crews will shift traffic into the median lanes from George Liles Parkway (Exit 54) to the north end of the project. This will allow construction of the outside lanes to continue in a safe manner.
In conjunction with the lane shift, crews will close the exit and entrance ramps on I-85 North at N.C. 73 at 9 p.m. tonight. The exit ramp from I-85 North to N.C. 73 will open at 6 a.m. Friday, and the entrance ramp from N.C. 73 to I-85 North will open at 6 a.m. Saturday.
On Saturday, another traffic shift to the median lanes will take place from Poplar Tent Road to George Liles Parkway beginning at 9 p.m., while construction of the outside lanes continues.
In addition, crews will close the exit and entrance ramps on I-85 North at Poplar Tent Road from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, May 12.
NCDOT reminds motorists to watch signs for construction information, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit.
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