I-85 widening project gets $100M federal boost
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NCDOT will widen I-85 between the U.S. 321 interchange in Gastonia to the N.C. 273 interchange in Mount Holly. Photo courtesy of WBTV
The Biden administration is sending $100 million to widen and improve one of the most jam-packed highways in the Southeast.
What’s happening: The North Carolina Department of Transportation was awarded an Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant for a $600-plus-million overhaul of I-85 in Gaston County.
Why it matters: The interstate, known to some as “Charlanta,” is congested with both commuters and through traffic, and it’s posing safety risks. Parts of I-85 are near, if not already, at capacity.
- Plus, there’s a lack of alternative routes because of the Catawba River winding through the region.
- By the numbers: On average, 131,433 vehicles travel each day on the section of highway slated for the makeover, according to the grant application. About 13% of the traffic is trucks.
Details: NCDOT’s plans include widening 10 miles from six to eight lanes between the U.S. 321 interchange in Gastonia to the N.C. 273 interchange in Mount Holly. It will also add:
- Roughly nine miles of sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-use paths that will cross over the interstate. The project will reconnect communities that were split by the highway construction in 1965, the application states.
- Fiber optic cable, which is useful for the implementation of intelligent transportation systems (such as ramp meters or traffic light cameras) and rural broadband access.
- Electric vehicle chargers.
- A hydraulic monitoring system to mitigate flooding.
- Replacement of five interchanges, six overpasses and four railroad bridges.
- Wider median shoulders.
Timeline: Planning is underway, and construction will be complete in 2030, according to NCDOT’s website.
Between the lines: President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law increased INFRA program’s funding by more than 50%. It is contributing $8 million over five years for its grants.
- According to a release from the U.S. Department of Transportation, this year’s INFRA awards were competitive and went to projects that “strengthen supply chains, help make goods more affordable and are located in rural areas and historically disadvantaged communities.”
What they’re saying: “These funds will deliver critical transportation improvements, better connect our people to high-speed internet and move our state forward on clean transportation,” Gov. Roy Cooper stated in a press release.