Took my longest solo road trip thus far yesterday, to Charlotte to see Lana Del Rey in concert. I decided the extra distance and construction on I-85 was preferable to dealing with DC traffic. The route was pretty simple, since it’s a straight shot down 85 until you get to Charlotte itself, but I detoured down 85 Business on the way there for a clinch. In town I got off 85 at 77, then took 277 to Uptown. The only new routes I drove were 85 Business and NC 49.
Some notes:
-85 has a long construction segment, from the VA/NC line to the US 1 split at Henderson, that’s one lane in each direction. Not too bad, just a bit annoying, particularly at night.
-This same segment, at least northbound, still has some button copy signage. One of the signs for Manson Road, for example.
-85 between I-73 and Charlotte is the most heavily patrolled freeway I have ever seen. And given where I live, that’s saying something. In one particular half-mile segment around Kannapolis, there were four state troopers. Even 85 Business had more than I was expecting.
-85 Business reminds me of a very long version of the ubiquitous US route bypasses, like 460 or 29 in Virginia. Narrow median, weird interchange geometry, etc. I am aware that it basically started off as one of those.
-NCDOT seems to be minimizing visibility of 85 Business from mainline 85, relegating it to a couple of smallish ground-mounted green signs at the north and south ends of the route. It’s more visible at each end of the silent overlap, though.
-The short segment I drove of what will eventually be I-285 was better than the rest of 85 Business, but still seemed a bit substandard, and some of it looked like there wasn’t much room to improve it.
-There was another construction zone on 85 in Rowan and Cabarrus counties. Two lanes each way. Not as annoying as the section at the other end of the state.
-I-77 also has some construction going on, between mile markers 11 and 37. IIRC these are either HOV or HOT lanes being built. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.
-I’m pleased to see Sheetz has proliferated on the I-85 corridor in North Carolina. Looks like they stretch from Henderson to Salisbury. Could be room for one on the corridor in Virginia as well.
