Motorists planning night travel through Charlotte next week may need to plot out alternative routes. The City has announced full lane closures on Interstate 85, running nightly from Oct. 20 through Oct. 24, to make way for construction on a new bridge intended to ease traffic congestion. CharlotteNC.gov reports that the closures are slated to begin at 9 p.m. and end at 6 a.m. the following morning, affecting travel lanes gradually but ensuring all southbound traffic will to eventually detour.
For those traveling south on I-85, expect the lanes to shut down progressively from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Oct. 20, and Oct. 21. Drivers will then be rerouted from Exit 46 onto a detour that takes them to West Mallard Creek Church Road and onto North Tryon Street, finally connecting them back to W.T. Harris Boulevard where they can re-join I-85 South.
The installation of bridge girders is a critical step in the bridge construction process. This work must be carried out during the night to minimize disruption to the daytime travel public. It is important to note that these closures are planned to occur overnight-only, a scheduling that aims to reduce the impact on the significant weekday traffic flow I-85 typically experiences.
