Interstate 85
Interstate 85 constitutes a heavily traveled freeway through most of North Carolina. Entering the state from Upstate South Carolina, I-85 runs east from Kings Mountain to Gastonia and into the city of Charlotte. I-485 provides a bypass to the north while I-85 passes north of Downtown.
Turning northeast along a six to eight lane freeway, I-85 joins Charlotte with Concord, Kannapolis and Salisbury. A business loop for I-85 separated from the Interstate 85 at Lexington, joining U.S. 29/70 northeast into Thomasville and High Point while I-85 bypassed to the east. The loop is being retired from 2020 onward.
Looking southwest at I-85/U.S. 29-52-70 from Belmont Road (SR 3159) near Linwood, North Carolina. - 08/18/2021
Continuing into the Piedmont Triad area, Interstate 85 enters the city of Greensboro along the southeastern quadrant of the freeway loop formed with I-73, I-840 and I-785. Interstate 40 runs across the city south of Downtown, combining with I-85 to the east.
I-40/85 overlap for 30.9 miles along an eight lane freeway to Burlington, Mebane and Hillsborough. They split west of Durham, with I-40 heading southeast to Chapel Hill and Raleigh and I-85 staying eastward into central Durham. Beyond the Bull City, Interstate 85 becomes more rural, reducing to four lanes and angling northeast to Oxford, Henderson and southeastern Virginia.
Interstate 85 North Carolina Guides
North
Kings Mountain to Gastonia - 72 photos
Charlotte - 61 photos
Concord to Salisbury - 72 photos
Lexington to High Point - 49 photos
Greensboro - 48 photos
I-40/85 - Burlington to Hillsborough - 68 photos
Durham - 59 photos
Butner to Henderson - 89 photos
South
Henderson to Butner - 76 photos
Durham - 45 photos
I-40/85 West - Hillsborough to Burlington - 63 photos
Greensboro - 39 photos
High Point to Lexington - 45 photos
Salisbury to Concord - 70 photos
Charlotte - 62 photos
Gastonia to Kings Mountain - 60 photos
Underway between 1999 and February 12, 2008, $210 million in construction widened Interstate 85 through Durham between 1999 and February 12, 2008 in three separate projects. Work involved improvements to the interchange (Exit 178) with U.S. 70 and separate widening and interchange upgrades along I-85 from U.S. 70 west to Broad Street and between Broad Street and U.S. 15/501.1,2
I-85/U.S. 15 south at U.S. 70 and the East End Connector (I-885/U.S. 70) in Durham, North Carolina. - 07/09/2010
The wye interchange joining U.S. 70 west with I-85 south at Exit 178 was reconstructed as part of a $210 million widening project along I-85 west to U.S. 15-501 south. This included constructing new flyovers at Exit 178, which added eastbound access to U.S. 70 from I-85 south. All freeway lanes were opened to traffic in September 2006,2 but work involving side roads, ramps and landscaping continued to a ribbon cutting ceremony held on February 12, 2008.2
Dating back to 1955, the narrow four-lane bridge carrying Interstate 85 across the Yadkin River was replaced as part of a $201.5 million project that included rebuilding the interchange with NC 150. The northbound bridge opened on May 5 2012, followed by the new southbound span by March 9, 2013. Named the Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge, the new twin spans included a 1.5 mile realignment of I-85 to the east of the original crossing. Interstate 85 accommodates four lanes per direction with 12 foot shoulders.4 Debate over the replacement of this bridge initially focused on construction of a toll bridge to pay for its cost. Discussion involved electronic toll collection at a rate as high as $4 per passenger vehicle.
scenes
Looking west at Interstate 85 from the flyover linking I-85 north with I-485 north.
06/01/07
I-85/U.S. 29 shield assembly posted along Dixon School Road north at Exit 5. U.S. 29 combines with I-85 nearby at Exit 4 for a six mile overlap to Kings Mountain.
07/24/04
State named shields that were posted on Edgewood Road north at the Bessemer City interchange (Exit 13). Reconstruction of the freeway here between 1999 and 2001 resulted in the repaving of the concrete ramps and replacement of signage.
12/08/99
Leaving the passenger terminal at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Josh Birmingham Parkway splits into ramps for the parkway east along SR 1490 to Billy Graham Parkway and north to Little Rock Road for I-85.
01/17/19
Leaving CLT Airport northbound, Josh Birmingham Parkway intersects U.S. 29/74 (Wilkinson Boulevard). U.S. 29/74 parallel I-85 west to Interstate 485 and east to Uptown Charlotte.
01/17/19
Josh Birmingham Parkway becomes Little Rock Road (SR 1641) north from Scott Futrell Drive (SR 1981) to the exchange with Interstate 85.
01/17/19
A single point urban interchange joins Little Rock Road (SR 1641) with Interstate 85 at Exit 32.
01/17/19
Mallard Creek Church Road (SR 2472) meets Interstate 85 east of University Research Park in Charlotte.
05/31/21
Bruton Smith Boulevard (SR 2894) runs 1.90 miles north from U.S. 29 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to a commercialized parclo interchange (Exit 49) with Interstate 85.
03/11/22
Bruton Smith Boulevard becomes Concord Mills Boulevard (SR 2894) north from the exchange with Interstate 85. A flyover follows for Concord Mills mall.
03/11/22
The south exit from Concord Mills mall joins Concord Mills Boulevard (SR 2894) southbound ahead of Interstate 85.
03/11/22
Entering the parclo interchange (Exit 49) with Interstate 85, Concord Mills Boulevard becomes Bruton Smith Boulevard (SR 2894).
03/11/22
Poplar Tent Road (SR 1394) west at the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) with Interstate 85 at Exit 52 in Concord.
05/31/21
Groometown Road travels south from Grandover Parkway over I-85/U.S. 29-70 to the northbound freeway on-ramp.
06/22/05
Interstate 85 splits with Business Loop I-85/U.S. 29-70 just north of Groometown Road. U.S. 29 continues through central Greensboro while I-85 overlaps with U.S. 421 on a bypass to the southeast.
06/22/05
Belmont Road (SR 3159) meets Interstate 85 at the succeeding exit south of I-285 and Lexington.
08/18/21
A folded diamond interchange joins Belmont Road (SR 3159) with I-85/U.S. 29-52-70 at Exit 86.
08/18/21
U.S. 29/52/70 part ways with Interstate 85 north along the west side of Lexington. I-85 continues across the south side of the city.
08/18/21
U.S. 29/70 combine with I-85 north from Spencer to Lexington. U.S. 52 accompanies the freeway northeast from Salisbury.
08/18/21
Mt. Hope Church Road (SR 3045) ties into the east split of I-40/85 outside Greensboro.
08/18/21
A loop ramp joins Mt. Hope Church Road north with I-40/85 west just ahead of the Greensboro Urban Loop (I-785/840).
08/18/21
University Drive (SR 1226) meets I-40/85 at a commercialized six-ramp parclo interchange (Exit 140) in southwest Burlington.
08/18/21
I-40/85 overlap west from University Drive and Burlington to Whitsett, Sedalia and Greensboro.
08/18/21
East from University Drive, I-40/85 run across south Burlington to the city of Graham and Mebane.
08/18/21
Huffman Mill Road (SR 1158) angles southwest along a commercialized stretch from U.S. 70 (S Church Street) in Burlington to I-40/85 at Exit 141.
08/13/21
The diamond interchange joining Huffman Mill Road with I-40/85 lies just south of Garden Road (SR 1308) north to Elon.
08/13/21
Exit 141 for Huffman Mill Road is one of four interchanges along I-40/85 in the city of Burlington.
08/23/21
Gate One Road curves southeast by several mobile home parks in south Butner to meet Interstate 85 opposite U.S. 15 north to Creedmoor.
07/09/10
I-85/U.S. 15 combine for 7.3 miles southwest to the U.S. 70 freeway in Durham.
07/09/10
Drivers turn onto U.S. 15 south for Interstate 85 south from Gate One Road. U.S. 15 continues the roadway northeast five miles to Creedmoor. U.S. 15 and I-85 reconvene at Oxford in 16 miles.
07/09/10
Interstate 85 shield posted on Ruin Creek Road northbound at Graham Avenue.
06/22/05
A diamond interchange joins Ruin Creek Road with Interstate 85 near Maria Parham Hospital in west Henderson. All of the Interstate shields at Exit 212 included the state name in 2005.
06/22/05
References:
- "Roadwork Coming to End - Traffic relief in sight as I-85 widening winds down." The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC), January 30, 2006.
- "Overbudgeted I-85 Project Officially Opens." WRAL (Raleigh, NC). February 12, 2008.
- "The End of the Road - I-85 project set to be complete within 2 weeks." The Herald-Sun (Durham, NC), September 7, 2006.
- "New Yadkin River bridge opens - All four lanes on the I- 85 southbound bridge should be available Saturday." Charlotte Observer (NC), March 9, 2013.
Photo Credits:
- Andy Field: 06/01/07, 08/13/21, 08/18/21, 08/23/21
- Alex Nitzman: 12/08/99, 07/24/04, 06/22/05, 07/09/10
- Brent Ivy: 01/17/19, 05/31/21, 03/11/22
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Page Updated Monday January 30, 2023.