Easthaven Neighborhood Assoc.

New Sections of I-485 to open soon; (Charlotte Observer)

Jul 29, 2003

Posted on Sun, Jul. 06, 2003

COMMENTARY by Dianne Whitacre
2 northeast sections of I-485 to open soon
N.C. 49 to Albemarle in late July; Albemarle to Lawyers in August DIANNE WHITACRE

Finally, we're closer to having another link of Interstate 485 open in east Mecklenburg.

The 7.5-mile stretch from N.C. 49 to Albemarle Road will open in late July.

Drivers will enter the new freeway at interchanges on N.C. 49, Rocky River Road, Harrisburg Road and Albemarle Road.

Then in late August, the 5-mile stretch opens from Albemarle to Lawyers Road in Mint Hill, with an interchange at N.C. 218.

The entire segment -- from Lawyers to N.C. 49 -- was supposed to be ready by July 1, but the heavy rains in winter and spring set back the work.

Of course, this two-stage opening means I-485 drivers will have a gap for more than two months, until work is finished on the segment between Mint Hill and University City.

The state has to take a lot of care in deciding where the outerbelt will temporarily end until the next segment is finished. Traffic will flood off the last freeway exit and onto whatever local road is nearby. This time it will be four-lane Albemarle Road, which should be able to handle that extra flow. Ending the freeway temporarily at little two-lane N.C. 218 would have been a disaster. Once the entire eastern leg of the outerbelt is open, N.C. 218 will be just one of a string of interchanges rather than the end of the line.

Crews have shaped the ramps for an interchange at N.C. 51 in Mint Hill, but won't pave them until 2008 at the request of the town. Mint Hill said the interchange won't be needed for years and would only encourage more development.

Just because the highway isn't finished hasn't stopped drivers from using it, said Tawana Brooks, who oversees the outerbelt's construction for the state.

Police and state troopers are patrolling the unopened section and writing trespass tickets to drivers who want their outerbelt ... NOW.