Interstate 485

Interstate 485

Charlotte Outerbelt

Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap

I-485, highlighted in red

Route information

Auxiliary route of I-85

Maintained by NCDOT

Length

67.6 mi (108.8 km)

Existed

1990–present

Major junctions

Beltway around Charlotte

US 29 / US 74 near Belmont

I-85 near Belmont

I-77 in Huntersville

I-85 near Concord

US 29 near Concord

US 74 in Matthews

US 521 near Pineville

I-77 / US 21 near Pineville

Location

Counties

Mecklenburg

Highway system

Interstate Highway System

Main

Auxiliary

Suffixed

Business

Future

North Carolina Highway System

Interstate

U.S.

State

Scenic

←  NC 481

→  US 501

Interstate 485 (I-485) is an Interstate Highway loop/beltway encircling Charlotte, North Carolina. Completion of the last segment of the highway occurred on June 5, 2015.

Contents

1Route description

1.1Orientation and signage

1.2Dedicated and memorial names

2History

3Future - I-485 Express Lanes - Between US 74 and I-77

4Exit list

5See also

6References

7External links

Route description[edit]

I-485 travels 67.6 miles (108.8 km) around the city of Charlotte, with mile markers beginning/ending at the I-77/US 21 interchange with the highway near Pineville. Lane counts vary from four to eight, while the posted speed limit throughout is 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). The beltway is further broken down into four segments: Seddon "Rusty" Goode Freeway (southwest), Craig Lawing Freeway (northwest), H. Allen Tate, Jr. Highway (northeast) and Governor James G. Martin Freeway (southeast).

The southwest segment is six-lanes throughout, on concrete, and borders the Steele Creek area. Attractions in this area include the Charlotte Premium Outlets (exit 4) and Lake Wylie. There are also two exits here for the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport: exit 6 for the Air Cargo Center and exit 9 for the main terminal. The northwest segment of the beltway is six-lanes throughout, on concrete. Attractions in this area include the U.S. National Whitewater Center (exit 12), Northlake Mall (exit 21) and Mountain Island Lake. The northeast segment is eight-lanes throughout, using both concrete and asphalt, and borders Huntersville at its northernmost point. Attractions in this area include the Carolina Renaissance Festival (October–November) and Concord Mills Mall. The southeast segment is the largest segment, which goes through the towns of Mint Hill, Matthews and Pineville, as well as the notable Charlotte neighborhoods University City and Ballantyne area. Over 18 miles (29 km) of the segment is four-lane, with six/eight lane sections within the University City, Ballantyne and Pineville areas, all on asphalt. Attractions in this area include the Charlotte Motor Speedway (exit 32), PNC Music Pavilion, University of North Carolina at Charlotte(exit 33), the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex, Carolina Place Mall (exit 64B) and President James K. Polk Historic Site (exit 65B).

Although the loop runs within 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the South Carolina state line, and within 20 feet (6.1 m) of the Cabarrus Countyline at the Rocky River Road exit, the entire beltway is within Mecklenburg County's boundaries, and never crosses into South Carolina or any neighboring counties. I-485 is Charlotte's only "true" loop road as both I-277 and Route 4 are partial ring roads.