CONCORD — The Interstate 85 widening project will bring lane closures on the interstate as demolition of a bridge continues at Concord Lake Road and Main Street in Cabarrus County.

Contractor Blythe Construction closed one lane on I-85 South between Exits 60 and 58 at 9 p.m. Wednesday. At midnight, all southbound lanes were closed, detouring traffic at eExit 60 (Dale Earnhardt Boulevard) to U.S. 29 South and back to I-85.

All lanes should reopen by 6 a.m. Thursday.

On Thursday, one lane will close on I-85 North at 9 p.m., starting at the Winecoff School Road overpass and through Exit 58. All northbound lanes will shut down at midnight, detouring traffic at Exit 55 (N.C. 73) to U.S. 29 North and back to I-85.

All lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. Friday.

Northbound lanes between Exits 55 and 58 will shut down at midnight Friday. Traffic will follow Thursday night’s detour along N.C. 73 and U.S. 29.

All lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. Saturday.

In Rowan County, southbound I-85 motorists will encounter a closure later this week as traffic is shifted into median lanes from Mile Markers 62 to 66.

N.C. Department of Transportation contractors will shifting traffic onto newly constructed median lanes at 9 p.m. Friday. This work is scheduled to be complete by 9 a.m. Saturday. A detour will be in place from midnight until 6 a.m. Saturday using U.S. 29 and Lane Street.

Law enforcement officers will be stationed along the detour to help traffic move safely through the area. Single lane closures will precede and follow the road closure.

The I-85 project involves replacing and rebuilding several bridges over the interstate to meet design requirements and eliminate substandard clearances.

DOT is adding four travel lanes (two in each direction) on an 8-mile stretch of I-85 in Cabarrus and Rowan counties to improve traffic flow. The work will complete the expansion of I-85 in the area.

Without these improvements, traffic volumes are predicted to increase each year and exceed capacity by 2035, DOT says.

Motorists are encouraged to pay attention when approaching the work zone, obey the posted speed limit, follow posted detours, and allow extra time to reach destinations safely.