2022 infra grant CM/GC - I-85 futures: I-85 from US 321 to NC 273 in gaston county - widen to eight lanes

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded $117.4 million to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on June 18, 2025, under the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program (CFDA 20.934) to fund the I-85 Futures project. This comprehensive transportation initiative will widen a 10-mile segment of Interstate 85 in Gaston County from six to eight lanes, replace or reconstruct approximately five interchange structures, six overpasses, and four railroad bridges to accommodate the widening, and add auxiliary lanes at interchanges. The project is structured across multiple design-build and construction manager/general contractor components covering different corridor segments and specialized infrastructure work.

In addition to the primary roadway widening, the project will deliver multimodal transportation and digital infrastructure improvements including approximately nine miles of sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and multi-use paths crossing over I-85; fiber optic cable installation for broadband access and rural connectivity; a flood risk warning system; traffic and incident management systems; and intelligent transportation systems for connected vehicle and traveler information. These complementary infrastructure components reflect the program's emphasis on projects of national or regional significance that advance safety, economic competitiveness, climate resilience, and equitable multimodal transportation options.

Project description

I-85: funding transportation utilizing resilient equitable solutions (I-85 futures). This project will widen I-85 from US 321 (exit 17) to NC 273 (exit 27) from six lanes to eight lanes and will add auxiliary lanes for interchanges. In addition, the structures at approximately five interchanges, approximately six overpasses, and approximately four railroad bridges will be replaced to accommodate the widening. The project will also add approximately nine miles of sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-use paths crossing over I-85; and install fiber optic cable to support its applications and rural broadband access. I-5719A (DESIGN-BUILD): widen I-85 from US 321 to NC 7 (mcadenville road). I-5719B (DESIGN-BUILD): widen I-85 from NC 7 (mcadenville road) to NC 273. I-5719C (CMGC): reconstruct one piedmont northern railroad bridge and two norfolk southern railroad bridges and replace the SR 2213 (grove street) bridge which is adjacent to one of the norfolk southern railroad bridges (work is within the limits of I-5719A). I-5719D: implement flood risk warning system on I-85 from the south carolina state line to NC 273. I-5719FA: traffic and incident management on I-85 from US 321 to NC 7. I-5719FB: traffic and incident management on I-85 from NC 7 to NC 273. I-5719FC (DESIGN-BUILD): install broadband along I-85 from the south carolina state line to US 74. I-5719FD: its resilience connected vehicle and traveler information systems on I-85 from the south carolina state line to NC 273. Note: preliminary engineering completed under I-5719 (FA# 0851121).