South Charlotte Street To Close for Three Months During I-485 Toll Lane Work

Rodney Street in south Charlotte shuts down Monday, Feb. 16. Crews will block access for three months while they build the I-485 toll lanes. NCDOT says the street won't reopen until mid-May.

According to WCNC.com, the shutdown affects everything between Westinghouse Boulevard and Royshall Lane near Pineville. Workers plan to lay a water line beneath the pavement, strip out old road materials down to the base, then repave once they finish underground tasks.

Drivers who typically use this connection from Westinghouse Boulevard will need a different path. NCDOT wants them heading south on Downs Road, then east when they hit N.C. 51, followed by a turn north onto N. Polk St., and finally west on Industrial Drive to reach the blocked section.

This closure ties into the massive I-485 toll lane project. NCDOT urges caution near construction zones.

Three months is a long stretch. Motorists must find other ways through until spring ends.

NCDOT hasn't pinned down an exact reopening day past that mid-May target. Rain could push things back. So could equipment problems or unexpected underground complications.

I-485 toll lane construction has shut down roads across Charlotte for over a year now. More closures are coming as workers push toward completion on infrastructure improvements throughout the area.

Anyone who drives this path daily should add buffer time. The detour covers more ground and could slow commutes when traffic builds up at peak hours.

Shops and restaurants on the blocked stretch might lose some walk-in customers during construction, though NCDOT hasn't said whether sidewalks will remain open or if people on foot can still reach storefronts.

Five days remain before the closure starts, so get your backup plans ready now.