Interstate 485

I-485 travels 67.6 miles (108.8 km) around the city of Charlotte, with mile markers beginning/ending at the I-77/US 21 interchange with the highway near Pineville. Lane counts vary from four to eight, while the posted speed limit throughout is 70 miles per hour (110 km/h).[3] The beltway is further broken down into four segments: Seddon "Rusty" Goode Freeway (southwest), Craig Lawing Freeway (northwest), H. Allen Tate, Jr. Highway (northeast) and Governor James G. Martin Freeway (southeast).

The southwest segment is six-lanes throughout, on concrete, and borders the Steele Creek area. Attractions in this area include the Charlotte Premium Outlets (exit 4) and Lake Wylie. There are also two exits here for the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport: exit 6 for the Air Cargo Center and exit 9 for the main terminal. The northwest segment of the beltway is six-lanes throughout, on concrete. Attractions in this area include the U.S. National Whitewater Center (exit 12), Northlake Mall (exit 21) and Mountain Island Lake. The northeast segment is eight-lanes throughout, using both concrete and asphalt, and borders Huntersville at its northernmost point. Attractions in this area include the Carolina Renaissance Festival (October–November) and Concord Mills Mall. The southeast segment is the largest segment, which goes through the towns of Mint Hill, Matthews and Pineville, as well as the notable Charlotte neighborhoods University City and Ballantyne area. Over 18 miles (29 km) of the segment is four-lane, with six/eight lane sections within the University City, Ballantyne and Pineville areas, all on asphalt. Attractions in this area include the Charlotte Motor Speedway (exit 32), PNC Music Pavilion, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (exit 33), the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex, Carolina Place Mall (exit 64B) and President James K. Polk Historic Site (exit 65B).

Although the loop runs within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the South Carolina state line, and within 20 feet (6.1 m) of the Cabarrus County line at the Rocky River Road exit, the entire beltway is within Mecklenburg County's boundaries, and never crosses into South Carolina or any neighboring counties. I-485 is Charlotte's only "true" loop road as both I-277 and Route 4 are partial ring roads.

Orientation and signage

I-485 inner (north) at the interchange with I-77 south of Charlotte

Since Interstate 485 is a beltway, the compass orientation of the freeway is not uniform around the loop. To remedy the uniformity issue, the inner/outer orientation system was implemented and became the primary method of signing the direction of travel around the loop. Some sections of the loop are signed with additional north/south or east/west labels (depending on the general direction of travel along a particular stretch) to aid drivers familiar with compass directions. Usually when both systems are utilized on signs, the compass directional banner is placed above the number shield and the inner/outer banner is placed below.[4] Officials originally decided to use only "north" and "south" compass directions when signing the route, but because this would be confusing with multiple "norths" and "souths", "inner" and "outer" designations were included. Although "east" and "west" signs exist, these will be phased out in favor of "inner" and "outer" designations.[5]

Traffic traveling in a clockwise direction around the city of Charlotte is on the "Inner" loop and traffic traveling in a counterclockwise direction is on the "Outer" loop.[6] This system can be confusing, but it is logical; since traffic in the United States generally travels on the right side of the road, the clockwise traveling lanes will always be the "Inner" lanes of a loop.[4]

There are three control cities along the route: Huntersville, Matthews and Pineville. Secondary control cities, which include Spartanburg, Statesville, Greensboro and Columbia, are also listed at various interchanges for travelers that want to bypass Charlotte to other destinations, via Interstates 77 and 85.

NC 24 ends at I-485, in Charlotte

The first section of what became I-485 was completed around 1967, connecting a newly opened section of I-85 with US 29 near the Cabarrus-Mecklenburg county line.[10][11] This section became a part of Interstate 485 on May 5, 1999, the first section of the highway on the north end of the county.[12]

In 1975, planning began for the Charlotte outerbelt.[13]

On July 8, 1988, Gov. Jim Martin and state transportation secretary Seddon Goode attended a groundbreaking near US 521, marking the start of construction on the first 1.3-mile (2.1 km) section between US 521 and NC 51. Martin also announced the designation "Interstate 485" for what had previously been called the outerbelt.[14] The section opened November 1, 1990, two months earlier than planned.[15] Still, because of all the development in the area, the highway immediately became inadequate for the area's needs and required widening.[16]

A 2.6-mile (4.2 km), $67.2 million section of I-485 from US 521 to I-77 opened October 24, 1994. The section included a four-level interchange, the first and only in North Carolina, at its junction with I-77.[17] On December 9, 1994, the section from NC 51 to Rea Road opened.[18]

On July 1, 1997, a $13.9 million 2-mile (3.2 km) section of I-485 opened between I-77 and NC 49, a section designated The Seddon "Rusty" Goode Jr. Freeway, named for a member of the North Carolina Board of Transportation who helped decide where I-485 would be built.[19]

On August 15, 1997, 2.3 miles (3.7 km) of I-485 opened between Rea Road and NC 16 (Providence Road).[20] An $8.6 million 1.4-mile (2.3 km) section from NC 49 to Brown-Grier Road in the Steele Creek community opened in two stages August 26 and 27; the name of Brown-Grier Road changed to Arrowood Road when that road was extended.[21] Seven more miles opened September 15, connecting NC 16 to U.S. 74.[22]

In May 1999, the original segment between I-85 and US 29 (N. Tryon Street) was widened and upgraded to interstate standards, officially becoming part of I-485; a few months later, on August 13, the segment was extended to NC 49 (University City Boulevard).[23][12][24] In December 1999, the main section of I-485 continued its extension north from US 74 to Idlewild Road, adding 2.3 miles (3.7 km). In June 2000, another 3-mile (4.8 km) extension was completed, between Idlewild Road and Lawyers Road in Mint Hill, at a cost of $10.2 million.[25]

In 2003, the last 12.5 miles (20.1 km) needed to link main I-485 to its northern stub was completed, at a cost of $55.4 million. Opening in two phases, the first 7.5-mile (12.1 km) segment opened on September 3, 2003, between University City Boulevard and NC 27 (Albemarle Road); two months later, the second 5-mile (8.0 km) segment opened on November 19, between Albemarle Road and Lawyers Road.[26][13] By end of 2003, I-485 was one continuous 37-mile (60 km) freeway between I-85 (near Concord) to Arrowood Road.

On October 19, 2004, I-485 was widened, from four to six-lanes between I-77/US 21 and Arrowood Road, and extended between Arrowood Road and I-85 (near Belmont). Completion of the $100 million 7-mile (11 km) segment was noted that it would relieve traffic along the Billy Graham Parkway and provide an alternative route to Charlotte Douglas International Airport.[27] On December 15, 2006, a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) segment between I-85 (near Belmont) and NC 27 (Mount Holly Road) opened; signed as Future I-485, it was also dedicated as the Craig Lawing Freeway.[28] Six months later, on May 9, 2007, another 1.5-mile (2.4 km) segment, between Mount Holly Road and NC 16 (Brookshire Boulevard) was opened.[29] On December 4, 2008, a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) segment between Brookshire Boulevard and NC 115 (Old Statesville Road) was opened; all future signage was removed from the previous segments, with new signage showing connection between I-77, towards Statesville, and I-85, towards Spartanburg.[30] In 2011, West Boulevard interchange (exit 6) was opened to traffic, existing previously as a graded future interchange since 2004.[31]

The final segment, from I-77 to I-85 near UNC Charlotte, had begun Right of Way Acquisition phase with contracts awarded in June 2010. The segment opened to traffic on June 5, 2015, finally completing the loop and providing a direct connection from I-77 near Huntersville to I-85 near Concord Mills Mall.[32][33]

Since 2003, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) made sure that future segments of I-485 were designed with a minimum of six travel lanes. While the first segments of I-485 were already choked by traffic, thanks to Charlotte's rapid growth, NCDOT could not immediately deal with the issue thanks to a 2000 policy that prevented the state using trust fund money, a major source of funding for new projects, to widen existing roads.[16] Eventually, NCDOT was able to allocate new funds for a widening project, between US 521 (Johnston Road) and I-77/US 21, which was slated for construction in 2012.[34] On November 18, 2011, NCDOT changed the plans with an extension of the widening project to Rea Road and additional space allocated for a future toll lane, between Johnston Road and I-77/US 21.[35] Construction on the modified widening project began in 2013; at a cost of $83.3 million, the 9.2-mile (14.8 km) widening project was completed in December 2015.[36]

On January 15, 2017, the Oakdale Road interchange (exit 18) was opened to traffic, existing previously as a graded future interchange since 2008.[37]

Since November 18, 2011, NCDOT has made plans for future toll lanes along I-485. Modifying an already planned widening project between US 521 (Johnston Road) and I-77/US 21, it called on a future toll lane to be constructed as well as extending the widening project towards Rea Road. The future toll lanes, when completed would be between US 74 (Independence Boulevard) and I-77/US 21; in April 2014, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) adopted the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), which included establishing toll lanes along I-485.[38] The first segment of the new toll lanes, between Johnston Road and I-77/US 21, were completed in December 2015, but were not opened.[34][35] The new un-open lanes along I-485 became controversial and discussions were made about making it an HOV lane, or at least temporally; however local and state officials said that could not be done and would cost more for just temporary use of the lanes.[39][40]

At a cost of $202.9 million, the 16.6-mile (26.7 km) Interstate 485 Express Lanes project will establish new toll lanes along its entire planned route. It will also include the following improvements: Adding additional general purpose lanes between Providence Road and Rea Road, extend auxiliary lanes between Independence Boulevard and East Johns Street, establish dedicated connectors from the Express Lanes to Johnston Road (eastbound only) and Westinghouse Boulevard (westbound only) and incorporates the existing planned project of adding a new interchange at Weddington Road. Tolls would be collected using an electronic toll collection (ETC) system; drivers will need to have the NC Quick Pass, or other interoperable transponder, or will be billed by mail with a higher rate. Construction was slated to begin "tentatively" in the summer of 2018.[38][41][42]

Mile marker numbering along the loop freeway goes in a clockwise direction, beginning and ending at the interchange with I-77/US 21 in southern Charlotte.

The entire route is in Mecklenburg County.

Location	mi[43]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Charlotte	1.6	2.6	1	NC 49 (South Tryon Street)
	3.0	4.8	3	Arrowood Road
	4.4	7.1	4	NC 160 (Steele Creek Road) – Fort Mill	Partial cloverleaf interchange
​	6.0	9.7	6	West Boulevard
​	9.4	15.1	9	US 29 / US 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard) – CLT Airport	Exit is part of exit 10 southbound
​	10.0	16.1	10	I-85 – Greensboro, Spartanburg	Signed as exits 10A (north) and 10B (south) on exit collector lanes; stack interchange
Charlotte	11.8	19.0	12	Moores Chapel Road	Double roundabout interchange
	13.0	20.9	14	NC 27 (Mount Holly Road)
	15.4	24.8	16	NC 16 (Brookshire Boulevard) – Newton	Partial cloverleaf interchange
	17.2	27.7	18	Oakdale Road
	20.3	32.7	21	NC 24 east (Harris Boulevard)	Partial cloverleaf interchange; to Northlake Mall
Huntersville	22.0	35.4	23	I-77 – Charlotte, Statesville	Signed as exits 23A (south) and 23B (north) outbound
	23.0	37.0	23C	NC 115 (Old Statesville Road)
Charlotte	25.4	40.9	26	Prosperity Ridge Road / Prosperity Church Road / Benfield Road	Double roundabout interchange
	27.5	44.3	28	Mallard Creek Road	Diverging diamond interchange
	28.4	45.7	30	I-85 – Greensboro, Charlotte	Turbine interchange
	30.6	49.2	32	US 29 (North Tryon Street) – Charlotte, Concord	Partial cloverleaf interchange; to Charlotte Motor Speedway
	32.2	51.8	33	NC 49 (University City Boulevard) – Harrisburg	To UNC Charlotte
​	34.7	55.8	36	Rocky River Road
​	37.5	60.4	39	Harrisburg Road
Mint Hill	38.4	61.8	41	NC 24 / NC 27 (Albemarle Road) – Albemarle
	40.4	65.0	43	NC 51 (Blair Road) – Mint Hill
	42.2	67.9	44	NC 218 (Fairview Road) – Mint Hill
	44.1	71.0	47	Lawyers Road
Matthews	46.3	74.5	49	Idlewild Road
	47.1	75.8	51	US 74 (Independence Boulevard) – Charlotte, Monroe	Signed as exits 51A (west) and 51B (east)
			—	I-485 inner (Express Lanes)	Future terminus of I-485 Express lanes
	50.4	81.1	52	East John Street – Matthews, Stallings, Indian Trail
				Weddington Road	Future interchange (funded, scheduled to begin construction in 2020)[44]
Charlotte	54.1	87.1	57	NC 16 (Providence Road) – Weddington	Partial cloverleaf interchange
	56.2	90.4	59	Rea Road	Partial cloverleaf interchange
	59.4	95.6	61	US 521 south (Johnston Road)	Signed as exits 61A (north) and 61B (south) inbound; to Ballantyne; northern terminus of US 521
			—		Future interchange; outbound exit and inbound entrance, express lanes only
Pineville	61.4	98.8	64	NC 51 (Pineville-Matthews Road) – Pineville, Matthews	Signed as exits 64A (north) and 64B (south); partial cloverleaf interchange; to Carolina Place Mall
	64.2	103.3	65	South Boulevard / North Polk Street – Pineville	Signed as exits 65A (south) and 65B (north) southbound; partial cloverleaf interchange; former US 521 north
Charlotte			—	Westinghouse Boulevard	Future interchange; express lanes only
	67.6	108.8	—	I-485 outer (Express Lanes)	Future terminus of I-485 Express lanes
			67	I-77 / US 21 to I-85 north – Charlotte, Columbia	Stack interchange; I-85 signed inbound
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Unopened

• Carowinds
• I-485 / South Boulevard (LYNX station)

• Media related to Interstate 485 at Wikimedia Commons
• NCRoads.com: I-485