Wedoany.com Report on Feb 9th, The I-485 Express Lanes project, valued at $346 million and commissioned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), is nearing the end of construction. This project, focusing on the I-485 highway that encircles Charlotte, aims to address severe congestion during peak hours through infrastructure upgrades.

Spanning seven years, the project has added 29 miles of express lanes to the I-485 highway. Additionally, a general-purpose lane was added in each direction on the segment between Rea Road and Providence Road to increase road capacity. These measures are expected to effectively reduce congestion between I-77 and Highway 74, shortening travel times.

The NCDOT stated that this project is part of a larger express lanes network designed to optimize regional traffic flow through systematic construction. The project was coordinated with other transportation initiatives in southern Mecklenburg County to create a more efficient transportation network. As the population and number of vehicles in Charlotte and its surrounding areas continue to grow, this express lanes project is crucial for alleviating traffic pressure.