North Bridge Over Interstate 85

• Project typeBridge, Transportation
• Project budget$38.084 million
• Project phaseCurrent Status: Bid Phase

Project Overview

This will span I-85, connecting Research Drive to J.W. Clay Boulevard. The bridge will create connections between University Research Park to shopping and services at University Place, the J.W. Clay LYNX station, the North Tryon street corridor, the Charlotte Research Institute and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It will accommodate motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and public transit users. 

Featuring elements that capture the culture of the region, the North Bridge over I-85 project will bridge our community and provide a valuable transportation connection by spanning I-85 and serving as a gateway into Charlotte. 

The North Bridge over I-85 will be located in Charlotte's northeast corridor and will provide connectivity across I-85, linking residential, retail and educational uses in University City on the east side of the interstate to the employment center of the University Research Park on the west side. The project will provide an alternative route to both the W.T. Harris Boulevard and Mallard Creek Church Road interchanges with I-85. In addition, the bridge will provide a direct connection between all of the following: 

This signature bridge will serve as a monument entrance into Charlotte and provide facilities that accommodate all modes of transportation from cars and public transit to bicycles and pedestrians. 

As a part of the National Environment Policy Act process, the City of Charlotte, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, will engage the community to help complete an environmental analysis and preliminary design that reflects the region's vision for infrastructure connectivity. 

Public participation will be important throughout this project to help identify alternatives that meet the City's goal to maintain the growth and vitality of the community and to support a healthy economy for Charlotte.

Project Goals

• To provide connectivity across I-85, linking residential, retail, and educational uses in University City to the employment center of the University Research Park

• To provide an alternative route to both the WT Harris Boulevard and Mallard Creek Church Road interchanges with I-85

• To provide a direct connection between University Research Park, UNC Charlotte, the future Doby Creek and Barton Creek Greenways and the LYNX Blue Line J.W. Clay Station

• To provide facilities that accommodate all modes of transportation: motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and transit.

Public Involvement

The City of Charlotte hosted the first community information meeting on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 6 p.m. at the Oasis Shriners. The meeting was an open house format with a brief formal presentation. View the "project documents" area of this page to view materials from the meeting.

On November 3, 2016, the project team held another public meeting at Elevation Church-University City to shared the preferred alignment of the bridge and get feedback. An online meeting was made available for participants who did not attend. 

On June 7, 2017, the project team hosted a meeting at Oasis Shriners to present preliminary design concepts and enhanced aesthetic options for the bridge. A virtual meeting was provided to those who could not attend to select the concept they preferred.

On December 13, 2018, participants reviewed the project’s final roadway layout, learned about the right-of way acquisition process and viewed the aesthetics for the bridge.