Bridge work on I-485 will mean lane closures this week. What drivers should know.

Expect lane closures to continue through early Saturday on Interstate 485 near the Ballantyne area of south Charlotte, state highway officials said.

Crews are closing lanes intermittently overnight to set bridge girders on both sides of the interstate for the new bridge on Ballantyne Commons Parkway, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The I-485 Express Lanes project will add one toll lane in each direction between I-77 and Independence Boulevard. The Ballantyne Commons Parkway bridge widening, new Weddington Road interchange and John Street interchange improvements are being done at the same time.​
The I-485 Express Lanes project will add one toll lane in each direction between I-77 and Independence Boulevard. The Ballantyne Commons Parkway bridge widening, new Weddington Road interchange and John Street interchange improvements are being done at the same time.​

Lane closures and “rolling road blocks” started late Tuesday and will continue nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

A four-lane bridge will replace the existing two-lane bridge on the parkway, according to NCDOT. The new 300-foot-long bridge will have 12-foot sidewalks and a concrete median, officials said.

The work is part of the I-485 toll lanes project in southern Mecklenburg County.

Here’s what to expect on I-485 the rest of the week::

Wednesday night and early Thursday, double left-lane closures on I-485 Inner Loop from Rea Road to Providence Road and double right-lane closures on I-485 Outer Loop from Providence Road to Rea Road.

The I-485 Express Lanes project includes replacing the current two-lane Ballantyne Commons Parkway bridge with a new four-lane bridge.
The I-485 Express Lanes project includes replacing the current two-lane Ballantyne Commons Parkway bridge with a new four-lane bridge.

To move cranes, crews will operate four rolling roadblocks from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., according to the release. Two roadblocks will occur in each direction, lasting 30 minutes apiece.

Thursday night and early Friday, double left-lane closures on the Outer Loop from Rea Road to Providence Road from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and a single left-lane closure on the Inner Loop from Providence Road to Rea Road from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

To set girders, crews will operate five rolling roadblocks from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., each for about 30 minutes

Friday night and early Saturday, double left-lane closures on the Outer Loop from Rea Road to Providence Road from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and a single left-lane closure on the Inner Loop from Providence Road to Rea Road from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

To set bridge girders, crews will operate five rolling roadblock from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., each again lasting 30 minutes.