North Bridge Over Interstate 85

• Project typeBridge, Transportation
• Project budget$50.7 million (includes all costs associated with the project such as planning and design, acquiring the right-of-way, utility relocation, consultant fees, construction, signalization, permits and landscaping)
• Project phaseConstruction
• Construction contractorDane Construction

Renderings of the bridge during the day and at night. For illustrative purposes only; specific features may change.

LANE CLOSURES ON I-85 SCHEDULED OCT. 20-24, 2025

Construction is underway on the new bridge over Interstate 85 that will provide an alternative route to the W.T. Harris Boulevard and West Mallard Creek Church Road interchanges with I-85. The next step of construction will involve installing bridge girders over I-85. This will involve overnight-only lane closures and detours starting at 9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20, and ending at 6 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24.

For southbound I-85 traffic:

• On Monday, Oct. 20, and Tuesday, Oct. 21, southbound travel lanes will close in a stepped progression from 9 p.m. through 11 p.m.
• From 11 p.m. through 6 a.m., all southbound traffic must use a detour route.
• Southbound traffic will be re-directed to Exit 46 (West Mallard Creek Church Road) to North Tryon Street and W.T. Harris Boulevard to re-join I-85 South. 
  
  

For northbound I-85 traffic:

• On Wednesday, Oct. 22 and Thursday, Oct. 23, travel lanes will close in a stepped progression from 9 p.m. through 11 p.m.
• From 11 p.m. through 6 a.m., northbound traffic must use a detour route.

• Northbound traffic will be re-directed to Exit 45B (W.T. Harris Boulevard) to North Tryon Street and West Mallard Creek Church Road to re-join I-85 North. 
  
  

All travel lanes will fully re-open at 6 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24.

This project spans a North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)- managed roadway. However, it is a new roadway and bridge being constructed and maintained by the City of Charlotte, with oversight provided by NCDOT. Construction recently finished on the bridge’s center support pier.

Project Overview

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 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, engaged the community to help complete an environmental analysis and preliminary design that reflects the region's vision for infrastructure connectivity. 

Public participation was important throughout this project to help identify alternatives that meet the city's goals 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. 

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.

Rendering of the roadway after improvements. For illustrative purposes only.

Vicinity Map