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This article is about the section of Interstate 85 in North Carolina. For the entire route, see Interstate 85.

Interstate 85 marker

Interstate 85

Map
I-85 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NCDOT
Length234.6 mi[1] (377.6 km)
Existed1958–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end I-85 at the South Carolina line near Blacksburg, SC
Major intersections
North end I-85 at the Virginia line near Bracey, VA
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Carolina
CountiesCleveland, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Davidson, Randolph, Guilford, Alamance, Orange, Durham, Granville, Vance, Warren
Highway system
← NC 84→ NC 86

Interstate 85 (I-85) is an Interstate Highway that runs from Montgomery, Alabama, to Petersburg, Virginia. In North Carolina, I-85 travels 231.23 miles (372.13 km) from the South Carolina state line near Grover to the Virginia state line near Wise. Despite being signed north–south, I-85 physically travels in a southwest–northeast direction across the state. The major landscapes traversed by I-85 include urban and rural pockets of the Piedmont region, with views of Kings Pinnacle seen from its southernmost stretch. The Interstate Highway connects the three most populous metropolitan areas of North Carolina: the Charlotte metropolitan area, Piedmont Triad, and Research Triangle, as well as nine of the 20 largest municipalities in the state. Outside of North Carolina, I-85 connects the state with Richmond, Virginia, to the north and Upstate South Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia, to the south. I-85 parallels several US Highways including US Highway 29 (US 29) between South Carolina and Greensboro, US 70 between Greensboro and Durham, US 15 between Durham and Oxford, and US 1 between Henderson and Virginia.

Route description[edit]

I-85 northbound at the exit for US 29/NC 49 in Charlotte

I-85 is maintained by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for its entire length in the state. The Interstate carries an average annual daily traffic volume of approximately 65,000 vehicles a day; roughly 25-40% of that traffic is commercial vehicles.[2]

South Carolina to Charlotte[edit]

I-85 enters Cleveland County, North Carolina from Cherokee County, South Carolina near the small town of Grover. Most of the Interstate for its first few miles is generally rural in nature and remains four lanes. It has its first interchange with NC 216, which provides access to Kings Mountain National Military Park, with a welcome center shortly after. Later, the southbound lanes have an exit for US 29, which quietly merges onto I-85 and begins a concurrency. At milemarker 10, the Interstate meets US 74 at a unique weave interchange and US 29 splits off from I-85 for US 74 east. Both routes also enter Kings Mountain.

At this point, I-85 crosses into Gaston County and expands to six lanes from four. It enters suburban areas and traffic begins increasing from here. The Interstate then reaches Gastonia and has an exit for NC 274 (Bessemer City Road). Then it has its first major interchange with US 321, signed north for Lincolnton and south for the city's main business district. Traffic from US 321 south prior to 2017 was often congested due to I-85, and a new interchange was developed to help relieve it.[3] Past it, I-85 turns southeast, then east as it goes through more suburban areas, with restaurants, businesses, churches, and car dealerships that line the road. Along here, it intersects more state highways serving as Gastonia's main thoroughfares, including NC 7 (Ozark Avenue), NC 279 (New Hope Road), and NC 7 (McAdenville Road/Main Street) again; NC 7 provides access to the town of McAdenville. Here, many major retail stores and supermarkets are seen along I-85 as it continues on its eastward track to Belmont and expands even more to eight lanes. It reaches the main exit for Belmont at NC 273 near milemarker 27, then crosses the Catawba River, entering Mecklenburg County.

Charlotte to Greensboro[edit]

Right after entering Mecklenburg County, I-85 reaches a weigh station occasionally serving trucks on both lanes. Access to the U.S. National Whitewater Center can be done from Sam Wilson Road, its first interchange in the county. After that, I-85 meets I-485 at a stack interchange. This portion of I-85 is often congested due to the lanes merging into one.[4] As of 2024, from the US 321 interchange to I-485, the lanes are being widened to accommodate larger amounts of traffic.[5] Drivers wanting to access I-77 can get off at the interchange, or simply keep driving on I-85 to reach the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. A couple miles later, I-85 has an exit for the airport via Little Rock Road at a single-point urban interchange and enters the city of Charlotte. It has interchanges with Billy Graham Parkway, as well as two more single-point urban interchanges with NC 27 (Freedom Drive) and NC 16 (Brookshire Boulevard).

I-85 then has an interchange with I-77 and US 21 at milemarker 38 with a hybrid interchange and then traverses the northern portion of Charlotte. The routing through this portion is generally more suburban than urban in nature, with light industries such as truck terminals, warehouses, small manufacturing facilities, and small office parks lining the highway. More interchanges with minor but significant thoroughfares through the city such as Graham Street, Sugar Creek Road, and North Tryon Street appear. Here, I-85 turns more northward and enters the University City area. it meets NC 24 (Harris Boulevard) in this stretch and has an interchange with I-485 again, this time at a turbine interchange.[6]

I-85 southbound in Concord near the I-485 interchange

I-85 then crosses into Cabarrus County, immediately entering the city of Concord and dense commercial development. It passes exit 49 (Bruton Smith Boulevard/Concord Mills Boulevard), which is signed for several major attractions such as the Concord Mills mall and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Several miles later, it has a diverging diamond interchange with NC 73 and then crosses Coddle Creek. It meets US 29 a second time as well as US 601 nearing Kannapolis, the exit of which provides access to the North Carolina Research Campus. US 601 merges onto I-85, forming another concurrency as the two routes continue northward and meet a rest area. They do not enter Kannapolis, but have several exits signed for it. They cross the Cold Water Creek, which parallels them, before entering Rowan County and mostly rural areas. North of China Grove, the highway passes exit 74 (Julian Road) for an outlet containing several stores. Just before Salisbury, US 601 splits from I-85 at exit 75 for Jake Alexander Boulevard, and I-85 enters Salisbury where it meets US 52 at exit 76 with a single-point urban interchange. US 52 merges onto I-85 and the highway exits Salisbury. At Spencer, I-85/US 52 enters Davidson County and crosses the Yadkin River on the Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge.[7] The route then meets with US 29, US 70, and NC 150 near the unincorporated community of Linwood at an unusual interchange. The interchange allows for direct access to NC 150 northbound and US 29/US 70 southbound. US 29 and US 70 converge with I-85/US 52 for a very brief distance, about two miles (3.2 km), before I-85 reaches an interchange that is accessible northbound only: I-285. At this point, all three U.S. Highways that overlapped I-85 leave the Interstate, and I-85 narrows back down to six lanes.[8]

The landscape becomes more rural as I-85 reaches just outside of Lexington and intersects NC 47 (Hargrave Road). Because the previous exit is a northbound-only exit, drivers going southbound must use NC 47 to access I-285. After its interchange with NC 8 (Cotton Grove Road), which is the main exit for Lexington, I-85 enters a large forest with tree-lined medians and crosses Abbotts Creek, then has an interchange with US 64. Past Holly Grove Road on milemarker 96, the northbound lanes cut under the southbound lanes and cross Hamby Creek. The reversed lanes of I-85 then pass over Squire Bowers Road and reach a rest area, as well as access to the North Carolina Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park. Once the lanes pass under Johnsontown Road around milemarker 102, the northbound lanes cross above the southbound lanes and return to normal direction.[9][10]

I-85 southbound at exit 113 for I-74 and NC 62

The tree-lined median then gives way to the city of Thomasville, where I-85 meets NC 109. It crosses into Randolph County as it enters the city of Archdale and intersects NC 62. I-85 enters High Point and has a parclo interchange with I-74 and the former routing of US 311. The exits are signed east for Asheboro and west for Winston-Salem. I-85 then passes through another forest with more trees lining the median and crosses the Randolph and Guilford branches of the Richland Creek as it enters Guilford County. Just outside Greensboro, it has a southbound interchange with US 29 and US 70 again. US 29 and US 70 form a brief concurrency with I-85 before the route enters suburban areas once more and reaches a very large and complex interchange with Groometown Road, Grandover Parkway, I-73, US 220, and US 421. US 29 and US 70 split off through the interchange, while US 421 joins I-85 from I-73 in a wrong-way concurrency. Because I-85 was rerouted around Greensboro after February 2004, it now follows the southern half of the Greensboro Urban Loop.[11][12]

Greensboro to Durham[edit]

Leaving the massive interchange, I-85/US 421 expands to eight lanes again and stays connected for just 4 miles (6.4 km) before US 421 departs the concurrency at exit 126 to head southeast for Sanford. Prior to the Greensboro Urban Loop, US 421 used to run along exit 126B, which is now signed for just Greensboro itself. Meanwhile, I-85 maintains its northeastward track and passes by a couple more exits before reaching its third auxiliary route, I-785, I-40, and I-840, the former and latter of which have their southern and eastern terminus at I-85 respectively. I-40 merges onto I-85 and the two routes share a rather long concurrency which travels entirely east–west for 31 miles (50 km). The concurrency here uses I-85's mileage instead of I-40's. I-40/I-85 enters more industrial areas and meets NC 61 before entering Alamance County. It travels right through the heart of Burlington upon mile marker 141, intersecting several of the city's main state highways, including NC 62 again, NC 49, NC 87, and NC 54. Businesses, restaurants, parks, and buildings can be seen lining the sides of the highway. Past a diverging diamond interchange with NC 119 (Mebane-Oaks Road), the highway enters Orange County and reaches another truck weigh station. I-40 then splits off southeast from I-85 to serve the southern portion of Durham and downtown Raleigh while I-85 continues eastward and narrows back down to four lanes.[13]

I-85 northbound passing through Durham

The following interchanges of I-85 before Durham County are rather substandard in quality due to the interstate retaining its original design. It meets NC 86 and later US 70, which forms another concurrency once again before entering Durham County. At milemarker 172, it meets the northern terminus of NC 147 (Durham Freeway), which connects to downtown Durham. I-85/US 70 then widens to six lanes again and then ten as it reaches the main city center and becomes urban in nature. It then has an interchange with US 15 and US 501, which both also join the concurrency. The highway passes NC 157 (Guess Road), and then US 501 splits off at Duke Street to head north. The other three highways continue on their way before meeting the western terminus of NC 55 (Avondale Drive). Just before exiting Durham, US 70 also departs the concurrency to head east alongside I-85's fourth and final auxiliary route, I-885, for the Raleigh–Durham International Airport and Raleigh itself while I-85 and US 15 remain joined.[14]

Durham to Virginia[edit]

North of Durham, I-85/US 15 narrows down to four lanes and passes several more minor interchanges before entering Granville County and suburban areas. The landscape gives way to rural areas and another forest, this time without trees lining the median as the highway crosses Falls Lake. US 15 departs I-85 at exit 186 to serve the town and city of Butner and Creedmoor respectively, whereas I-85 bypasses these areas. From here to Oxford, US 15 parallels I-85. The Interstate then intersects NC 56 outside of Butner and continues to make its way through the forest for about 10 miles (16 km) without any other interchanges. I-85 then crosses the Tar River and comes to another rest area. It meets US 15 at another interchange just near milemarker 202 nearing Oxford. Interchanges with NC 96 and US 158 immediately follow, then I-85 cuts into Vance County.

It immediately reaches the city limits of Henderson before meeting up with US 158 (Dabney Drive), and US 158 merges on I-85 to follow a short concurrency with it. The highway intersects NC 39, the main exit for Henderson, then US 158 splits off from the concurrency shortly after. At milemarker 218, I-85 has a southbound exit for US 1, which begins paralleling it for the rest of the Interstate's length. I-85 passes just west of Middleburg and has a parclo interchange with US 1/US 158 (Flemingtown Road) for the town of Norlina. I-85 then enters its final county in the state, Warren County. Before long, it bypasses Manson and continues to go through wooded forest with no development along the road. Just before exiting the state, I-85 has its final interchange in the state with US 1 and the northern terminus of US 401 near the unincorporated community of Wise. After that, it exits North Carolina and crosses the state line into Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

Dedicated and memorial names[edit]

Sign dedicating the Blue Star Memorial Highway
Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation Gene Conti and NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon unveiling a sign for the Jeff Gordon Expressway

I-85 in North Carolina features a few dedicated or memorialized stretches of freeway.

  • Blue Star Memorial Highway: The official North Carolina honorary name of I-85 throughout the state that was approved on May 5, 1967.[15][16]
  • Senator Marshall Arthur Rauch Highway: The official North Carolina name of I-85 through Gaston County that was approved on October 3, 1997.[16]
  • William James Pharr Bridge: The official North Carolina name of the bridge over the South Fork River on I-85 in Gaston County that was approved on August 5, 1994.[16]
  • Cameron Morrison Bridge: The official North Carolina name of the bridge over the Catawba River on I-85 between Gaston and Mecklenburg counties that was approved on March 11, 1983. It is named in honor of Cameron A. Morrison, known as the Good Roads Governor.[16]
  • Julius Chambers Highway: The official North Carolina name of I-85 between I-77/US 21 and the I-85 Connector (four miles [6.4 km]), in Charlotte. It is named in honor of Julius L. Chambers, who was a lawyer, civil rights leader, and educator, and was dedicated on May 24, 2018.[17][18]
  • Jeff Gordon Expressway: The official North Carolina name of I-85 from the Charlotte city limit to the Mecklenburg/Cabarrus county line in Northeast Mecklenburg County (1.6 miles [2.6 km]).[19] It is named in honor of NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon and was dedicated on May 25, 2012.[20][21][22][23]
  • Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge: The official North Carolina name of the bridge over the Yadkin River on I-85 between Rowan and Davidson counties that was approved on May 11, 2011.[24]
  • Bob Timberlake Freeway: The official North Carolina name of I-85 from exit 92 to exit 96 in Davidson County.[25]
  • Richard Childress Freeway: The official North Carolina name of I-85 from exit 96 to exit 102 in Davidson County.[25]
  • Congressman J. Howard Coble Highway: The official North Carolina name of I-85 from Alamance Church Road to I-40 in Guilford County that was approved on December 1, 2016. It is named in honor of Representative Howard Coble, who represented North Carolina's 6th congressional district for 30 years.[26]
  • Sam Hunt Freeway: The official North Carolina name of I-85/I-40 from the Guilford–Alamance county line to one mile (1.6 km) east of NC 54 in Graham that was approved on September 5, 1997.[16]
  • Dr. John H. Franklin Highway: The official North Carolina name of I-85/US 70, between Cole Mill Road (exit 173) and US 70 (exit 178), in Durham. It is named in honor of John Hope Franklin, an American historian and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.[27]

History[edit]

I-40/I-85 through Burlington

Parts of I-85 were already constructed before federal aid was available in the 1950s, as the state had been constructing sections of the Interstate Highway System since 1949. The Lexington Bypass north of Lexington—which at the time was signed US 29 and US 70—is now a part of I-85 Bus.[28] This was part of an 80-mile (130 km) expressway completed in 1955 between Lexington and Hillsborough.[29]

One planned road was the Salisbury bypass, 15 miles (24 km) long with a $1-million (equivalent to $8.88 million in 2023[30]) 880-foot (270 m) twin-span bridge over the Yadkin River. Construction on the bridge started in 1955 (this date is shown on a plaque, and most sources have used the date), but the lanes were not as wide as federal standards required, and the road had a sharp curve north of the bridge. Both of these characteristics saved money.[31]

The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 provided for 90-percent federal funding of highways that would become part of the Interstate Highway System, and the North Carolina Highway Commission used the funds to build the rest of the highway, which opened as I-85 in 1958. The bridge, finished a year earlier, was grandfathered despite not meeting standards.[31]

Another section of I-85 opened to traffic on September 9, 1958, when an 11.3-mile (18.2 km) stretch in Mecklenburg County was opened.

The year 1960 saw several sections of the highway open to traffic:[28]

  • An 18.3-mile (29.5 km) section of I-85 between Henderson and the Virginia border as well as a 46-mile (74 km) section between Greensboro and western Durham opened to traffic.
  • A 15.4-mile (24.8 km) portion of US 29/US 70 between Salisbury and Greensboro was incorporated into I-85 when further grade separations and access control were completed.
  • A 14-mile (23 km) segment of I-85 known as the "Charlotte Bypass" in Charlotte.
  • A 13.8-mile (22.2 km) segment between Greensboro and Whitsett.

By 1965, I-85 from the South Carolina border to Charlotte was complete, while it took until 1970 for the section between Charlotte and Durham to be completed. However, the "Temporary 85" designation would remain on the segment between Lexington and Greensboro until 1984 because there were too many access roads. That year, a new six-lane section opened, resulting in the "Temporary 85" designation to be dropped.[32]

Since its completion, many widening projects have been undertaken on I-85, particularly along the stretch of highway between Gastonia and Durham. By 1988, widening I-85 to six lanes from Greensboro to Burlington was being considered.[33] The plan was later changed to eight lanes.[34] The $175-million (equivalent to $374 million in 2023[30]) project began in 1989. With the opening of a 2.3-mile (3.7 km) section in Alamance County on November 23, 1994, 21 miles (34 km) of I-85/I-40 were eight lanes. An additional 14 miles (23 km) were to be ready by 1996, giving the Interstate eight lanes all the way to where I-40 turned southward at Hillsborough.[35]

In addition, I-85 was relocated in 2004, south of Greensboro, forming part of the Greensboro Urban Loop, allowing through traffic to bypass that city's downtown area.[36] Between 2004 and 2008, I-85 was widened to eight lanes around Salisbury.[31]

The I-85 Corridor Improvement Project, located in Rowan and Davidson counties, was a two-phase project to replace the narrow bridge over the Yadkin River and widen the freeway from four to eight lanes.[37] In the first phase, all traffic from the old bridge moved to a new $201-million (equivalent to $264 million in 2023[30]) bridge in August 2012.[31] On March 9, 2013, all eight lanes of the I-85 bridge opened to the public.[38] The project finished eight months ahead of schedule and $44 million (equivalent to $57.7 million in 2023[30]) under budget.[39]

From May 2010 through April 2014, I-85 was widened from four to eight lanes between exit 49 (near Charlotte Motor Speedway and Concord Mills) and exit 55.[40]

Current projects[edit]

Following the completion of the widening of I-85 between exits 49 and 55, a new project was started to widen I-85 from exit 55 (NC 73) in Concord, Cabarrus County northward to exit 68 (NC 152) in China Grove, Rowan County. Like the prior project, I-85 is being doubled in capacity, expanding from two travel lanes in each direction to four travel lanes in each direction. The project is now complete as of May 2021. The first phase (from exit 55 to exit 63) began in early 2014, and the second phase (from exit 63 to exit 68) began in early 2017.[41] Construction is scheduled to be completed by December 2017.[42] When finished, that will leave I-85 in North Carolina with at least six lanes of highway between exits 10 (US 29 north/US 74—Kings Mountain and Shelby) and 164 (I-40 in Hillsborough).

Exit list[edit]

CountyLocationmi[43]kmExitDestinations[44]Notes
ClevelandGrover0.000.00
 I-85 south – Spartanburg		Continuation from South Carolina
​1.82.92 NC 216 – Kings Mountain National Military Park
​3.65.84
 US 29 south		Southern end of US 29 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
​4.87.75Kings Mountain Blvd / Dixon School RoadTo be converted into diverging diamond interchange[45]
Kings Mountain7.612.28 NC 161 – Kings Mountain
Gaston10.016.110A

 US 29 north / US 74 east		Northern end of US 29 concurrency
​10B
 US 74 west – Kings Mountain, Shelby
Bessemer City12.820.613Edgewood Road – Bessemer City
Gastonia14.523.314 NC 274 – East Bessemer City, West Gastonia
17.027.417 US 321 – Gastonia, LincolntonSigned as exits 17A (south) and 17B (north) southbound
19.030.619 NC 7 – East Gastonia
19.731.720 NC 279 (New Hope Road) – Dallas
20.633.221Cox Road – Ranlo
Lowell22.335.922Main Street – Cramerton, Lowell
23.237.323 NC 7 – Lowell, McAdenville
Belmont25.741.426Belmont–Mount Holly Road – Belmont, Mount HollyTo Belmont Abbey College
26.943.327 NC 273 – Belmont, Mount Holly
Catawba RiverCameron Morrison Bridge – Good Roads Governor (1921-1925)
Mecklenburg​29.447.329Sam Wilson RoadTo U.S. National Whitewater Center
​30.348.830
 I-485 to I-77 – Pineville, Huntersville		Signed southbound as exits 30B (north/inner) and 30A (south/outer); I-485 exit 10
Charlotte32.051.532 Little Rock Road – CLT AirportSingle-point urban interchange
33.253.433Billy Graham Parkway (Charlotte Route 4) – Farmers MarketTo Billy Graham Library
34.755.834 NC 27 (Freedom Drive) / Tuckaseegee RoadTuckaseegee Road only directly accessible northbound
35.457.035Glenwood Drive
36.258.336

 NC 16 (Brookshire Boulevard) to US 74 east – Downtown Charlotte		Single-point urban interchange
37.860.837Beatties Ford Road – Johnson C. Smith University
38.261.538 I-77 / US 21 – Statesville, ColumbiaHybrid interchange; I-77 exits 13A-B; southbound exit ramp and northbound entrance ramp include access to/from I-77 Express Lanes south
38.862.439Statesville Avenue / Statesville Road
40.565.240Graham Street
41.366.541Sugar Creek Road (Charlotte Route 4)
42.368.142

 To US 29 / NC 49 (N. Tryon Street)		Northbound exit and southbound entrance; access via I-85 Connector
43.069.243
 University City Boulevard to NC 49 / Ikea Boulevard
44.571.645 NC 24 (W.T. Harris Boulevard)Signed as exits 45A (east) and 45B (west)
46.274.446Mallard Creek Church RoadSigned northbound as exits 46A (east) and 46B (west)
47.576.448

 I-485 to I-77 north – Huntersville, Matthews		Turbine interchange; I-77 not signed northbound; I-485 exit 30
CabarrusConcord49.279.249Bruton Smith Boulevard / Concord Mills BoulevardTo Concord Mills and Charlotte Motor Speedway
51.883.452Poplar Tent RoadDiverging diamond interchange[46]
53.686.354George W. Liles Parkway / Kannapolis ParkwayTo North Carolina Research Campus and Atrium Health Ballpark
55.088.555 NC 73 – Concord, HuntersvilleTo Rowan-Cabarrus Community College South Campus; DDI[47]
58.093.358
 US 29 / US 601 south – Kannapolis, Concord		Southern end of US 601 concurrency; to North Carolina Research Campus
Kannapolis59.996.460Dale Earnhardt Boulevard / Copperfield BoulevardSigned as exits 60A (Copperfield) and 60B (Dale Earnhardt) northbound
62.5100.663Lane Street – Kannapolis
RowanLandis65.0104.665Old Beatty Ford Road – LandisOpened November 14, 2019[48]
China Grove68.0109.468
 NC 152 to US 29 – China Grove, Rockwell
Salisbury70.4113.370Webb Road
71.5115.171Peeler Road
72.3116.472Peach Orchard Road
73.7118.674Julian Road
74.5119.975
 US 601 north (Jake Alexander Boulevard)		Northern end of US 601 concurrency; to Rowan–Cabarrus CC North Campus
76.0122.376
 US 52 south (Innes Street) – Albemarle, Salisbury		Southern end of US 52 concurrency; formerly signed as exits 76A (south) and 76B (north)
East Spencer79.0127.179Andrews Street – Spencer, East Spencer
Spencer80.4129.481Long Ferry Road – Spencer
Yadkin River82.2132.3Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge
Davidson​82.7133.182


 US 29 south / US 70 west / NC 150 east – Spencer		Permanently closed as of April 2010[37][49][50][51]
​83.1133.783 NC 150Permanently closed as of May 2013[37][50][51]
​83.4134.284


 US 29 south / US 70 west to NC 150 – Spencer		Southern end of US 29/US 70 concurrency
​84.4135.885Clark RoadPermanently closed as of November 2012[52]
​85.5137.686Belmont Road
Lexington87.2140.387

 I-285 north / US 52 north (US 29 north / US 70 east) – Lexington, Winston-Salem		Northern end of US 29/US 52/US 70 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance; former I-85 BL north
88.0141.688



 NC 47 (Hargrave Road) to I-285 north / US 52 north
91.1146.691 NC 8 – Lexington, Southmont
93.7150.894Old US 64
96.0154.596 US 64 – Asheboro, Lexington
Thomasville101.5163.3102Lake Road
103.4166.4103 NC 109 – Thomasville
RandolphTrinity105.5169.8106Finch Farm Road
107.5173.0108Hopewell Church Road – Trinity
Archdale111.0178.6111Main Street – Archdale, Downtown High Point
Guilford112.7181.4113A NC 62 – ArchdaleSouthbound access via C/D lanes originating from I-74 exit
113.4182.5113B-C I-74 – Asheboro, Winston-SalemSigned as exits 113B (east) and 113C (west); I-74 exit 71B; former US 311
Greensboro118.1190.1118
 US 29 south – High Point		Southern end of US 29 concurrency; former I-85 BL south / US 70 west
119.5192.3119Groometown Road to Grandover ParkwayNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; US 29 exit 33A; I-73 exit 97C
120.0193.1120A


 US 29 north to I-73 south – Greensboro		Northern end of US 29 concurrency; northbound exit and southbound entrance; former I-85 BL north / US 70 east
120.4193.8120B

 I-73 north / US 421 north – Winston-Salem, Martinsville		Western end of US 421 concurrency; signed as exit 121 southbound; I-73 exit 97B
121.7195.9122
 I-73 south / US 220 – Asheboro, Greensboro		Southbound exit and northbound entrance; signed as exits 122B (south) and 122C (north); I-73 exit 95A; US 220 exit 95B
123.7199.1124South Elm–Eugene Street
126.0202.8126A
 US 421 south – Sanford		Eastern end of US 421 concurrency
126BGreensboroFormer US 421 north
128.2206.3128Alamance Church Road
130.2209.5129Youngs Mill Road
131.9212.3131



 I-785 north / I-840 west to I-40 west – Greensboro, Danville		Northbound exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of I-785, eastern terminus of I-840
132.6213.4132Mount Hope Church RoadNorthbound exit only
133.3214.5131




 I-40 west to I-785 north / I-840 west – Greensboro, Winston-Salem		Western end of I-40 concurrency; no northbound exit; I-40 exit 227; former I-85 BL south
​133.7215.2132Mount Hope Church RoadNo northbound exit
Whitsett136.3219.4135Rock Creek Dairy Road
138.6223.1138 NC 61 – Gibsonville
AlamanceBurlington141.5227.7140University Drive – ElonTo Elon University
142.5229.3141Huffman Mill Road
144.2232.1143 NC 62 – Downtown Burlington, Alamance
146.3235.4145 NC 49 – Downtown Burlington, Liberty
Graham148.0238.2147 NC 87 – Graham, Pittsboro
149.0239.8148 NC 54 – Chapel Hill, Carrboro
Haw River150.8242.7150Jimmie Kerr Road – Haw River, Roxboro
Mebane153.2246.6152Trollingwood Road
154.0247.8153 NC 119 – Mebane
155.5250.3154Mebane–Oaks Road – Mebane
Orange​158.2254.6157Buckhorn Road
Efland161.3259.6160Mount Willing Road – Efland
161.9260.6161



 NC 86 Truck north to US 70 east		Western end of NC 86 Truck concurrency
Hillsborough164.0263.9163
 I-40 east – Raleigh		Eastern end of I-40 concurrency; I-40 exit 259
165.2265.9164HillsboroughFormer NC 86
166.5268.0165

 NC 86 Truck ends / NC 86 – Chapel Hill, Hillsborough		Eastern end of NC 86 Truck concurrency
Eno170.8274.9170



 US 70 west / US 70 Bus. east to NC 751 – Duke University		Southern end of US 70 concurrency; to Bennett Place
DurhamDurham173.3278.9172
 NC 147 south – Downtown Durham, Research Triangle Park		Northbound exit and southbound entrance; to North Carolina Central University
174.2280.3173Cole Mill Road
174.7281.2174A




 US 15 south / US 501 south to US 70 Bus. / NC 751 / Hillsborough Road – Chapel Hill		Southern end of US 15/US 501 concurrency; southbound exit and northbound entrance
175.3282.1174BHillandale Road
176.0283.2175 NC 157 (Guess Road)To NC School of Science & Math and Duke Homestead
177.2285.2176
 US 501 north (Duke Street) / Gregson Street – Roxboro		Northern end of US 501 concurrency; signed northbound as exits 176A (Gregson Street) and 176B (Roxboro)
178.2286.8177



 US 15 Bus. south / US 501 Bus. (Roxboro Street) / NC 55 east (Avondale Drive)		To North Carolina Central University
179.2288.4178

 I-885 south / US 70 east – RDU Airport, Raleigh		Eastern end of US 70 concurrency; I-885 exit 13; northern terminus of I-885
180.6290.6179E. Club Boulevard
181.3291.8180Glenn School Road
Gorman183.0294.5182Red Mill Road
184.5296.9183Redwood Road
Falls LakeBridge
Granville​186.7300.5186
 US 15 north – Creedmoor, Butner		Northern end of US 15 concurrency; signed northbound as exits 186A (US 15) and 186B (Butner)
Butner189.7305.3189Gate Two Road – Butner
192.0309.0191 NC 56 – Butner, Creedmoor
​202.8326.4202 US 15 – Oxford, Clarksville
Oxford205.1330.1204 NC 96 – Oxford
207.5333.9206 US 158 – Oxford, Roxboro
Vance​210.6338.9209Poplar Creek RoadTo Vance–Granville Community College
Henderson213.0342.8212Ruin Creek Road
214.0344.4213

 US 158 Byp. west / Dabney Drive		Western end of US 158 concurrency
215.5346.8214 NC 39 – Downtown Henderson
216.4348.3215

 US 158 Byp. east / Parham Road		Eastern end of US 158 concurrency
218.0350.8217Satterwhite Point RoadTo Satterwhite Point
219.0352.4218
 US 1 south – Raleigh		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
Middleburg221.0355.7220 US 1 / US 158 / Flemingtown Road – Norlina
WarrenManson224.5361.3223Manson-Drewry Road
​226.8365.0226Ridgeway-Drewry Road
​229.7369.7229Oine Road
​233.8376.3233 US 1 / US 401 – Warrenton, LouisburgNorthern terminus of US 401
​234.6377.6
 I-85 north – Petersburg		Continuation into Virginia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Related routes[edit]

There are four auxiliary routes and one business loop in the state. I-285 runs concurrently with US 52 connecting I-85 to I-40 in the Winston-Salem metropolitan area. I-485 forms a beltway around Charlotte, serving as a bypass for I-85 and I-77. I-785 serves as a spur route, forming a portion of the eastern part of the Greensboro Urban Loop. I-885 connects I-85 to I-40 in the Durham area.

I-85 Bus. used to be a partial controlled-access highway, bypassing Lexington, Thomasville, High Point, and Greensboro which was demolished in 2019.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "Applying the Principles of the Work Zone Rule to Design-Build Projects, Two Case Studies: North Carolina I-85 Corridor Improvement Project". FHWA Work Zone. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  3. ^ Nelson, Omar (December 14, 2017). "I-85/US 321 interchange construction underway in Gastonia". City News Source. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  4. ^ "NCDOT: I-85/I-485 Interchange Improvements, West of Charlotte". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "NCDOT: I-85 Widening - Gaston County". North Carolina Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Thompson, Jen (July–August 2013). "North Carolina Steps Boldly Out of Its Comfort Zone". Public Roads. Vol. 77, no. 1. Federal Highway Administration. FHWA-HRT-13-005. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "Project Spotlight - I-85 Yadkin River Bridge" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. n.d. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  8. ^ North Carolina Department of Transportation (October 2018). Davidson County, North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Transportation. Enlarged Municipal and Suburban Areas inset. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  9. ^ Google (May 2023). "I-85, Lexington, North Carolina". Google Street View. Google. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  10. ^ Google (November 2022). "I-85, Thomasville, North Carolina". Google Street View. Google. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  11. ^ "Greensboro Urban Loop comes full circle as city sets Monday as opening day for final stretch". FOX8. WGHP-TV. January 20, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  12. ^ North Carolina Department of Transportation (September 2018). Guilford County, North Carolina (PDF) (Map). Raleigh: North Carolina Department of Transportation. Sheet 8 of 10. Enlarged Municipal and Suburban Areas inset. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  13. ^ North Carolina State Tax Commission (2013). State Transportation Map (Map) (2013–2014 ed.). North Carolina Department of Transportation.
  14. ^ "Projects Overview". gis.dchcmpo.org. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  15. ^ "NCDOT: NC Blue Star Memorial Marker Locations". Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c d e "North Carolina Memorial Highways and other Named Facilities" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 19, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  17. ^ Crump, Steve (May 25, 2018). "A highway honor for a civil rights hero". Charlotte, North Carolina: WBTV. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  18. ^ Lowe, Jonathan (May 24, 2018). "Part of I-85 named after prominent attorney, civil rights activist". Charlotte, North Carolina: Spectrum News. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  19. ^ Busbee, Jay (May 26, 2013). "There is, alas, a speed limit on the Jeff Gordon Expressway". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  20. ^ Flores, Adrianne; Brad Broders (October 19, 2011). "Mecklenburg County Commissioners approve 'Jeff Gordon Expressway'". Raleigh, North Carolina: News 14 Carolina. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  21. ^ Lyttle, Steve (May 24, 2012). "Ready for the Jeff Gordon Expressway?". Sun Herald. Gulfport, Misssisssippi. Retrieved June 19, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ "Flickr - I-85 Jeff Gordon Expressway Ceremony". May 25, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  23. ^ "NCDOT dedicates section of I-85 in Mecklenburg County as the Jeff Gordon Expressway". Hendrick Motorsports. May 25, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  24. ^ "Bill to rename Yadkin River Bridge passes". Salisbury Post. May 13, 2011. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  25. ^ a b Stratton, Seth (December 16, 2008). "DOT dedicates part of I-85 as Childress freeway". The-Dispatch.com. Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  26. ^ "State names part of I-85 in Guilford County for late Rep. Howard Coble". News & Record. Greensboro, North Carolina. December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2016.
  27. ^ Baumgartner Vaughan, Dawn (November 27, 2017). "Why I-85 in Durham is now the 'Dr. John H. Franklin Highway'". News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  28. ^ a b North Carolina Department of Transportation. "Facts: Interstate 85" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
  29. ^ "This day in history". News and Record. January 9, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  30. ^ a b c d Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  31. ^ a b c d Turner, Walter R. (August 5, 2012). "The mysterious Yadkin River bridge". Salisbury Post. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  32. ^ North Carolina Department of Transportation. "Facts: Interstate 85" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 3, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
  33. ^ "I-85 Traffic Flow May Be Smoother". The Charlotte Observer. Associated Press. December 16, 1988. p. 5B.
  34. ^ "North Carolina - Wider I-85 Recommended". The Charlotte Observer. January 27, 1989. p. 2B.
  35. ^ Hall, David A. (November 23, 1994). "Interstate 40/85 Freeway Isn't Free of Construction". Greensboro News & Record. p. A1.
  36. ^ Hammer, John (January 20, 2023). "After 56 Years The Urban Loop Officially Opens Monday, Jan. 23". The Rhino Times of Greensboro. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  37. ^ a b c "NCDOT: I-85 Corridor Improvement Project". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  38. ^ "NCDOT to open new I-85 Yadkin River bridge on Friday". Charlotte, North Carolina: WBTV-TV. April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  39. ^ "The I-85 Yadkin River Bridge, Salisbury, North Carolina". Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  40. ^ Lyttle, Steve (April 3, 2012). "Part of widened I-85 to open this weekend". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  41. ^ "NCDOT: I-85 Widening and Improvements". Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  42. ^ Lyttle, Steve (April 12, 2012). "DOT awards contract for I-85 widening in Cabarrus County". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  43. ^ Google (December 27, 2012). "Interstate 85" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
  44. ^ "2023-2024 North Carolina State Transportation Map" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation Mapping Section. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  45. ^ Turbyfill, Diane (August 5, 2022). "Crews to make improvements to I-85 at night". Grover, NC: The Shelby Star. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  46. ^ Lyttle, Steve (September 8, 2014). "Diverging diamond opens on Poplar Tent Road". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved September 8, 2014.
  47. ^ Marusak, Joe (February 4, 2012). "New interchange planned for bottlenecked I-77 exit". Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2013.
  48. ^ "I-85 Exit 65 Opens". Kannapolis, NC: City of Kannapolis. November 14, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  49. ^ "SalisburyPost.com: Safety concerns lead to closing of Wil-Cox Bridge; no timeframe on reopening". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
  50. ^ a b "NC 150 Route Change (2012-03-01)" (PDF). North Carolina Department of Transportation. March 1, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  51. ^ a b NC 150 Route Change (2012-01-04) (PDF) (Map). North Carolina Department of Transportation. January 4, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  52. ^ Staff (July 27, 2011). "NCDOT to close Clark Road entrance and exits ramps on I-85 north, section of Snider Kines Road in Davidson County starting Monday". Project Details. North Carolina Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2012.

External links[edit]

KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/Interstate 85 in North Carolina
KML is from Wikidata


Interstate 85
Previous state:
South Carolina 		North Carolina Next state:
Virginia
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_85_in_North_Carolina