Contract crews will close part of southbound Interstate 85 between Mile Markers 63 and 70 to remove the old N.C. 152 bridge as part of continued work along the interstate widening project.

Crews will close the road from midnight until 6 a.m. from Wednesday through Saturday, weather permitting.

“We’ve erected notification signs in this area for the traveling public as various closures will be ongoing throughout the life of the project,” said Pat Ivey, division engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Drivers will be able to detour using U.S. 29 and Lane Street.

Transportation officials advise drivers to watch signs for construction information, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit.

Overall, the project involves replacing and rebuilding several bridges over I-85 to meet design requirements and eliminate substandard clearances. DOT is adding four travel lanes (two in each direction) to 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 through Cabarrus and Rowan counties. Traffic volumes are predicted to increase each year and, without these improvements, would exceed the road’s capacity by 2035.

All lanes are scheduled to be open by December 2019.

For more information about the project, contact DOT resident engineer Kelly Seitz at kseitz@ncdot.gov or 704-630-3220.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.