U.S. 521

U.S. 521 extends just 3.72 miles north into Mecklenburg County, North Carolina from Indian Land, South Carolina. The route concludes at a cloverstack interchange joining Johnston Road with Interstate 485 in south Charlotte.

Constructed as a part of an $83.3 million contract to widen Interstate 485 from I-77 east to Rea Road, a flyover was built from U.S. 521 north to I-485 west (inner loop).¹ Work was underway by Summer 2013 and the flyover completed by August 2014. The new ramp replaced a left turn for the Beltway west.

Charlotte, North Carolina - 1973

The historic alignment of U.S. 521 ran alongside U.S. 21 on Pineville Road and South Boulevard northward to Downtown Charlotte. By 1980, U.S. 21 was realigned onto an overlap with I-77. U.S. 21 remained along Pineville Road north to Woodlawn Road west, where it ended at I-77/U.S. 21.

U.S. 521 previously extended north along Billy Graham Parkway to Interstate 85 northeast of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). U.S. 521 was truncated southward to the Charlotte Beltway at Exit 61 with approval by the American Association of State Transportation and Highway Officials (AASHTO) on May 30, 2003. Prior to that, U.S. 421 was relocated from Pineville onto a shared alignment with Interstate 485.

North

Entering Mecklenburg County, North Carolina along U.S. 521 (Johnston Road) north.
05/30/05

Reassurance marker posted between the state line and Carolina Academy Road (SR 3634), where traffic lights were added in 2022.
05/30/21

Ardey Kell Road spurs west into the BridgeHampton development and runs east across south Charlotte. to NC 16 (Providence Road)
05/30/21

U.S. 521 (Lancaster Highway) continues north from Ardrey Kell Road by the Shoppes at Ardrey Kell retail center.
05/30/21

U.S. 521 curves northward onto Johnston Road from Lancaster Highway (SR 4982). Lancaster Highway, the former alignment of U.S. 521, branches northwest to Polk Street in Pineville.
05/30/21

U.S. 521 follows Johnston Road 2.60 miles north to Interstate 485.
05/30/21

The succeeding traffic light on U.S. 521 (Johnston Road) north is at Marvin Road (SR 3635).
05/30/21

05/30/21

05/30/21

05/30/21

Ballantyne Crossing Avenue connects U.S. 521 with the Ballantyne Country Club golf course community.
05/30/21

John J. Delaney Road loops east around the Ballantyne Commons East retail center.
05/30/21

05/30/21

A third lane opens along U.S. 521 (Johnston Road) northbound from Ballantyne Commons Parkway to the entrance ramp for I-485.
05/30/21

Brixham Hill Avenue ties into U.S. 521 (Johnston Road) east from Ballantyne Corporate Park West.
05/30/21

05/30/21

Two lanes separate from U.S. 521 (Johnston Road) for Interstate 485 (Charlotte Beltway).
05/30/21

Traffic separates for Interstate 485 west to Pineville and Downtown Charlotte and east for Matthews and Concord.
08/11/14

Completed in 2014, the flyover for I-485 west accommodates two lanes of traffic.
08/11/14

An end shield for U.S. 521 stands at the northbound ramp to Johnston Road from I-485 west.
05/30/21

South

Johnston Road leads south between the Toringdon Market and Toringdon Circle retail areas to the inner loop entrance ramp for I-485 to Pineville and I-77.
03/12/22

03/13/22

Johnston Road south becomes U.S. 521 through the cloverstack interchange with Interstate 485.
05/31/21

A loop ramp follows from U.S. 521 (Johnston Road) south to the outer loop of I-485 to Matthews and Mint Hill.
05/31/21

The first confirming marker for U.S. 521 south appears by the Ballantyne Corporate Place overpass.
05/21/19

U.S. 521 intersects Brixham Hill Avenue and John J. Delaney Drive at Ballantyne Corporate Park.
05/30/05

References:

1. "$83.3 Million Contract Awarded to Widen Section of I-485 in South Charlotte." North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), press release. September 18, 2012.

Connect with:

Interstate 485 - Charlotte Beltway

Page Updated Thursday February 02, 2023.