One of the few freeways being built these days entails is the Charlotte beltway, Interstate 485. Slated for opening soon is the latest segment of Interstate 485, extending the beltway east from North Carolina 16 (Brookshire Boulevard) to Interstate 77 & North Carolina 115 on the north side of Charlotte. Originally supposed to open a year and a half ago, contractors hope to put the finishing touches on the new freeway by October 31 of this year sometime in November? Cold weather delays have pushed back the project yet again (10-28).

Interstate 485, as envisioned, is a 67-mile beltway encircling the city of Charlotte through its suburbs. The first segment to open was the connector between then-U.S. 521 (South Boulevard) and North Carolina 15 (Pineville-Matthews Road), though a portion of freeway from Interstate 85 to U.S. 29 on the northeast side predated the Interstate designation by several decades. The final segment to open is the northeastern quadrant, between North Carolina 115 and Interstate 85. Currently construction is delayed until 2015 with a possible 2017-18 completion.

Recent updates on SouthEastRoads include a split of our 2001-created Interstate 485 guide into inner and outer loop pages, with complete coverage of the outer belt, and photos of the inner belt between North Carolina 24 & 27 and the temporary end at North Carolina 16 (Brookshire Boulevard).

Sources:

  • “Next Leg Of I-485 Could Steer Future Of Northlake Mall Area.” WSOCtv, October 16, 2008.
  • “Key voice backs I-485 widening of I-85 widening.” Charlotte Observer, September 21, 2008.