This weekend, motorists will begin traveling on the newly constructed outside lanes of I-85 North from just north of N.C. 150 to I-85 Business in Davidson County. The traffic shift will start on Saturday at 8 p.m. and end on Sunday by 11 a.m.
To move traffic safely and efficiently, crews must close lanes on I-85 North, as well as several ramps, including: The entrance ramp from I-85 North to I-85 Business; and The entrance loop and exit ramp at I-85 North and Belmont Road.
The ramp closures will not take place at once. They will occur one after another during the traffic shift period, starting with the I-85 Business entrance ramp. The closures will be lifted as soon as permanent striping work is complete.
Motorists traveling on I-85 North who want to access I-85 Business during the closure should exit the interstate at the Linwood Exit (Exit 88), turn left onto Hargrave Road and take the I-85 Business North entrance ramp.
Drivers on I-85 North who want to access Belmont Road (Exit 86) while the ramp is closed should exit approximately one mile south at N.C. 150 (Exit 84) where they will turn left onto N.C. 150, cross over the interstate, turn right onto Old Salisbury Road and turn right onto Belmont Road.
Motorists who want to enter I-85 North from Belmont Road (Exit 86) during the loop closure should travel north on Clyde Fitzgerald Road and turn left onto Hargrave Road where they can access I-85 North at Exit 88.
NCDOT encourages drivers to go slow and allow additional time to reach their destinations safely while traveling in the work zone. Traffic flow can be monitored via live cameras on the project website at www.i-85yadkinriver2.com/camera.html.
This traffic shift is part of the I-85 Corridor Improvement Project, the state’s top mobility project. NCDOT broke ground in September 2010 on the southern segment of the project, which involves replacing eight bridges, widening 3.3 miles of I-85 and reconstructing the N.C. 150 interchange. The northern segment extends the interstate widening by an additional 3.8 miles from north of N.C. 150 to just north of I-85 Business. Work on both phases is concurrent and currently scheduled to be complete in May.