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I-85 North Bridge

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Part of the Community Investment Plan​

Project phase
​Daytime and nighttime simulations of the project from Doug Mayes Place over I-85 to David Taylor Drive, along with aerial simulations of the four proposed concepts.​ Please note concepts are preliminary and while we strive to incorporate design elements of the selected concept, the final design will likely vary from those shown.

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 Project updates

​The City of Charlotte is starting the process for preliminary design for a bridge over I-85 that will connect Research Drive to J.W. Clay Boulevard. The bridge will create connections between University Research Park to shopping and services at University Place, the J.W. Clay LYNX station, the North Tryon street corridor, the Charlotte Research Institute and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. It will accommodate motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and public transit users. 

Featuring elements that capture the culture of the region, the I-85 North Bridge project will bridge our community and provide a valuable transportation connection by spanning I-85 and serving as a gateway into Charlotte. 

The I-85 North Bridge 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: 

  • ​University Research Park

  • The future Doby Creek and Barton Creek​ ​ greenways

  • ​​The J.W. Clay station​ of the ​​LYNX Blue Line Extension 

  • University of North Carolina at Charlotte

This signature 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, will engage the community to help complete an environmental analysis and preliminary design that reflects the region's vision for infrastructure connectivity.​​ 

Public participation will be important throughout this project to help identify alternatives that meet the City's goal to maintain the growth and vitality of the community and to support a healthy economy for Charlotte.​​​​​​​​​

  • ​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 Extension J.W. Clay Station

  • To provide facilities that accommodate all modes of transportation: motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and transit.​

​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. ​View the "project documents" area of this page to view materials from the meeting.

​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. View the preferred alignment​.

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.

To be determined

​​​​​​The Community Investment Plan approved by City Council in 2013 calls for voters to consider approval of funding for a number of infrastructure programs. Voters approved bond financing in 2014, 2016 and 2018 and will vote on further bond financing in 2020. For this project, City staff engages the community to determine the details of what will ultimately be built. Once these details are known, the cost of the project is estimated and published. Learn more about the Community Investment Plan at http://charlottefuture.com​

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 Project contacts

 Project documents