The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has again delayed the completion date for the I-485 toll lane project. A significant portion of the 17-mile stretch is now expected to be finished by summer 2025.
Work on the 485 toll lanes began in 2019 and they were projected to be finished by late 2020. Since then, officials have changed and added work to the project. They have also faced pandemic-related issues like worker shortages and supply chain delays, causing the completion date to be pushed back.
“Substantial completion” of the long-anticipated 17-mile, I-485 express lanes is now anticipated for spring or summer 2025, according to @NCDOT.
The new lanes costing $346 million were to open in 2022, but in 2021 a 2-year delay was announced.#ncpol https://t.co/j3AjNAfy52
— NC Travel Industry Association (@NcIndustry) May 20, 2024
When finished, one express lane will open in each direction of I-485 between I-77 and Highway 74 in Matthews. Crews are also adding an extra lane in each direction between Rea Road and Providence Road, widening the Ballantyne Commons Parkway bridge, building an interchange at Weddington Road in Matthews, and improving the existing interchange at John Street. The original cost was $289.5 million, but will likely be much higher after all the NCDOT delays.
This will become the third major toll-road project around the Charlotte region. It is joining the I-77 toll lanes up to Lake Norman and the Monroe Expressway.
