I-485 Widening from I-77 to Rea Road

The $83 million design-build project widened I-485 approximately 9.2-miles from 4-lanes to 6-lanes between I-77 and Rea Road in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.   This section of I-485 is one of the most congested roadways in North Carolina, averaging 110,000-135,000 vehicles per day, with trucks making up seven percent of those vehicles.

DRMP provided conduit routing and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) related design services within the limits of the project.  The design included: fiber, conduit, electrical, splice details and control equipment for the relocation of a Dynamic Message Sign (DMS). Also included was approximately 36,000-LF of underground conduit, 900-LF of bridge mounted conduit, 65 junction boxes and five identified CCTV locations.  DRMP coordinated directly with the North Carolina Department of Transportation ITS Section and Metrolina Transportation Management Center (TMC) for approval of plans. DRMP also worked with the contractor to complete the Norfolk Southern (N-S) Railroad wireline agreement for permit of the conduit routing across an existing N-S railroad right-of-way.

Improvements to I-485 significantly reduced congestion and resulted in fewer travel time delays for commuters and commercial drivers in south Charlotte.