Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Interstate 485 - Inner Loop 10/05/01 photos taken by AARoads. 06/22/05 & 07/11/05 photos taken by Alex Nitzman. 06/01/07 photos taken by Andy Field & Carter Buchanan. 12/06/08 photos taken by Jamie Dzencelowcz. 12/13/08 photos taken by Carter Buchanan. Interstate 485 Inner North Carolina 49 (South Tryon Street) travels south from central Charlotte to meet Interstate 485 at the Exit 1 partial-cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 07/11/05. Motorists bound for North Carolina 49 (South Tryon Street) part ways with Interstate 485 north at Exit 1, one mile west of the four-level stack interchange with Interstate 77 & U.S. 21. North Carolina 49 transitions to York Road southwest to Lake Wylie, South Carolina. Photo taken 07/11/05. Arrowood Road heads west from Interstate 77 & U.S. 21 and the Starmont community to Interstate 485 at Exit 3. Photo taken 07/11/05. Arrowood Road meets Interstate 485 at the Exit 3 diamond interchange outside of Charlotte, adjacent to the Whitehall Park Drive business park. Photo taken 07/11/05. Brown-Grier Road overtakes Arrowood Road west to North Carolina 160 (Steele Creek Road). Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit 4 consists of a six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with North Carolina 160 (Steele Creek Road). The state highway continues South Carolina 160 north from Fort Mill to Interstate 485 at Shopton. Photo taken 07/11/05. A fourth northbound lane carries traffic from Exit 3 to North Carolina 160 (Exit 4) on Interstate 485. Explosive growth has transitioned North Carolina 160 and adjacent Shopton Road West from a rural landscape to a hodgepodge of suburbs in recent years. Photo taken 07/11/05. North Carolina 160 ventures north along Steel Creek Road to Dixie and West Boulevard east to downtown Charlotte. Photo taken 07/11/05. Cutout Interstate 485 shield posted after the Dixie River Road overpass near Shopton. Photo taken 07/11/05. Nearing the future diamond interchange with Garrison Road on Interstate 485 south. The proposed Garden Parkway, a North Carolina Turnpike Authority project, is proposed to tie into the beltway near Garrison Road. It is unclear whether or not this will utilize the planned interchange here or involve the building of a new one. The parkway will travel west as a toll facility and bypass Gastonia to the south before tying into Interstate 85 west of town. Photo taken 07/11/05. Garrison Road spurs southwest from Dixie Road to Interstate 485 and a vastly undeveloped wooded area. Photos taken 07/11/05. Continuing north along Interstate 485 toward the Dixie community west of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. Photo taken 07/11/05. A collector/distributor roadway system facilitates the movements to Exit 10 (Interstate 85) after the departure of Exit 9 (U.S. 29 & 74) from Interstate 485 north. Photo taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 carries six overall lanes through the interchanges with U.S. 29 & 74 (Exit 9) and Interstate 85 (Exit 10). Interstate 85 travels west to Gastonia and Spartanburg and east into Charlotte. Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit prepares to depart Interstate 485 north to Wilkinson Boulevard. U.S. 29 and Interstate 85 shadow one another northward to Greensboro and southward to Atlanta. U.S. 74 enters Gastonia from Kings Mountain and departs U.S. 29 for downtown Charlotte. Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit 9 descends onto U.S. 29 & 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard) at a suburban area dotted by industrial and mobile home parks. U.S. 29 & 74 continue west to Belmont and Gastonia and east to Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit 10 quickly departs the freeway mainline ahead of the Wilkinson Boulevard under crossing. Drivers merging onto Interstate 485 north from U.S. 29 & 74 follow the c/d roadway north. Photo taken 07/11/05. The southbound on-ramp to Interstate 85 leaves the c/d roadway. U.S. 29 & 74 drivers bound for Interstate 485 northeast continue onto the mainline ahead of the on-ramps from Interstate 85. Photos taken 07/11/05. Heading north from U.S. 29 & 74 (Exit 9) toward the directional-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 85. All motorists bound for the parent interstate depart in unison for Exits 10A/B. Interstate 85 travels west to Gastonia and east toward downtown Charlotte. Photo taken 06/22/05. Parting ways with the Interstate 485 mainline (shown here as incomplete) for Exits 10A/B. Interstate 485 saw extension northward on December 15, 2006 to North Carolina 27, and by December 5, 2008, the northwest quadrant of Charlotte's beltway was complete. Photos taken 06/22/05 & 07/11/05. The southbound on-ramp to Interstate 85 leaves the c/d roadway. U.S. 29 & 74 drivers bound for Interstate 485 northeast continue onto the mainline ahead of the on-ramps from Interstate 85. Photos taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 next meets Moores Chapel Road (Exit 12) at a diamond interchange. Roundabouts lie at the end of each off-ramp. Photo taken 12/13/08. Future Interstate 485 reassurance marker posted at the Wildlife Road overpass. Interstate 485 no longer needs the future moniker now that the freeway is completed to Interstate 77. Photo taken 06/01/07. Moores Chapel Road heads west to U.S. 29 & 74 at the Catawba River and east to North Carolina 27 (Freedom Drive) at Paw Creek. Photo taken 12/13/08. North Carolina 27 (Freedom Drive) overtakes Mt. Holly Road at Paw Creek and continues west to the Exit 14 folded-diamond interchange with Interstate 485. Photo taken 06/01/07. Another Future Interstate 485 reassurance sign posted along the 2006-opened freeway. Photo taken 06/01/07. Exit 14 departs Interstate 485 north for North Carolina 27 (Mt. Holly Road). Mt. Holly Road is experiencing rapid suburban growth between Paw Creek and the town of Mt. Holly with new subdivisions quickly taking shape near the Exit 14 ramps. North Carolina 27 is a 197-mile route from Toluca to Benson. Photo taken 06/01/07. Future Interstate 485 sign posted after the Old Gum Branch Road overpass. The Future moniker was greened out by December 13, 2008. Photo taken 06/01/07. Interstate 485 temporarily ended at North Carolina 16 (Exit 16) in northwest Charlotte until December 5, 2008. North Carolina 16 is an important route through Charlotte, following Brookshire Boulevard southeast directly into Interstate 277 and northwest toward Newton. Photo taken 06/01/07. Construction barricades shunted drivers to the Exit 16 off-ramp for North Carolina 16 (Brookshire Boulevard). Interstate 485 was extended east to Interstate 77 and parallel North Carolina 115 on December 5, 2008. Photo taken 06/01/07. Exit 16 departs Interstate 485; North Carolina 16 (Brookshire Boulevard) heads north across Mountain Island Lake to Lowesville. A new four-lane expressway continues the state highway north around Denver and Triangle toward Newton. Southward, North Carolina 16 continues six miles to Interstate 85. Photo taken 06/01/07. A look at the temporary freeway end of Interstate 485 at Exit 16. Interstate 485's extension to Brookshire Boulevard opened on May 8, 2007. Photo taken 06/01/07. Interstate 485 continues north through the North Carolina 16 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange the day after the road was extended east to Interstate 77 and North Carolina 115. Photo taken by Jamie Dzencelowcz (12/06/08). Descending to Brookshire Boulevard at Interstate 485's end. North Carolina 16 is a 155-mile route between Waxhaw and Virginia 16. Photo taken 06/01/07. Interstate 485 reassurance marker posted after the North Carolina 16 on-ramp from Exit 16. Photo taken 12/13/08. Continuing a short distance east to the future Exit 18 diamond interchange with Oakdale Road. Oakdale Road travels north from the Oakdale section of Charlotte to Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road nearby. Photo taken by Jamie Dzencelowcz (12/06/08). Meeting Interstate 485 next is North Carolina 24 (W.T. Harris Boulevard) at the Exit 21 partial-cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken by Jamie Dzencelowcz (12/06/08). North Carolina 24 was extended west along Harris Boulevard to Interstate 485. The road travels 286 miles overall between its interchange with Interstate 77 and U.S. 70 near Morehead City. Photo taken 12/13/08. Exit 21 leaves Interstate 485 north for North Carolina 24 (Harris Boulevard), 1.25 miles west of the directional-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 77 (Exits 23A/B). North Carolina 24 serves the Northlake Mall between its junctions with the beltway and Interstate 77. Photo taken 12/13/08. Interstate 485 ends now at the partially-completed North Carolina 115 (Exit 23C) folded-diamond interchange. An end sign for the route advises motorists of this at the North Carolina 24 overpass. Photo taken 12/13/08. All traffic to Interstate 77 departs Interstate 485 east in unison after the Northlake Center Parkway overpass. Interstate 77 travels south to downtown Charlotte and north to Statesville. Photo taken 12/13/08. Closer look at the next bannerless Interstate 485 shield posted on the eastbound mainline. Photo taken 12/13/08. Interstate 485 mainline traffic is relegated to just one through lane as all traffic must exit at North Carolina 115 in one mile. Exit 23 separates into Exit 23A/B for Interstate 77 close by. Photo taken 12/13/08. Following the Interstate 77 exit, ramps partition to Interstate 77 south nine miles to downtown and two-lane directional ramp to northbound for Huntersville. Photo taken 12/13/08. Travelers pass over slightly relocated U.S. 21 (Statesville Road) ahead of the Exit 23C off-ramp to North Carolina 115 (Old Statesville Road). The Interstate 485 eastbound mainline ends abruptly beyond the barricades. Photo taken 12/13/08. Ramps from Interstate 77 north and south combine to form a distributor roadway for both Interstate 485 east and Exit 23C (North Carolina 115). Photo taken by Jamie Dzencelowcz (12/06/08). Exit 23C carries all travelers currently as Interstate 485 east remains unconstructed. North Carolina 115 follows Old Statesville Road south along an industrial park laden corridor to junction North Carolina 24 (Harris Boulevard). Photo taken by Jamie Dzencelowcz (12/06/08). Looking east at the ramp stub to Interstate 485 east and future beltway mainline. The ramp from the right emanates from current mainline end. Photo taken by Jamie Dzencelowcz (12/06/08). Ramps to Exit 23C combine ahead of the loop to North Carolina 115 (Old Statesville Road). Completion of Interstate 485 east to Interstate 85 in northeast Charlotte is not expected until at least 2015. Photo taken 12/13/08. North Carolina 115 shields posted at the Exit 23C ramp intersection with Old Statesville Road. Vance Davis Drive ties in from an adjacent industrial park. North Carolina 115 north continues to Huntersville otherwise. Photo taken by Jamie Dzencelowcz (12/06/08). Interstate 485 Inner Interstate 485 southbound shield posted after the North Carolina 24 & 27 on-ramp from Exit 41. Photo taken 07/11/05. Mecklenburg County's North Carolina 51 begins at Allen from North Carolina 24 & 27 (Ablemarle Road) and heads south to Interstate 485 at Exit 43. Photo taken 07/11/05. North Carolina 51 (Blair Road) meets Interstate 485 for the first time at the Exit 43 diamond interchange; a second meeting occurs at Pineville. Photo taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 southbound at the Exit 43 ramp departure to North Carolina 51. North Carolina 51 meanders through Mint Hill and Matthews among other suburban communities of south Charlotte. Photo taken 07/11/05. North Carolina 218 begins from North Carolina 51 at Mint Hill and heads east to a diamond interchange with Interstate 485 (Exit 44). Photo taken 07/11/05. One half mile north of Exit 44 to North Carolina 218 (Fairvew Road). North Carolina 218 journeys eight miles east from Interstate 485 to Fairview (junction U.S. 601). Photo taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 south at Exit 44 with North Carolina 218, a 33-mile route between Mint Hill and Polkton (junction U.S. 74). Photo taken 07/11/05. Southbound reassurance marker posted after the Fairview Road on-ramp. Photo taken 07/11/05. Lawyers Road represents the next diamond interchange of Interstate 485 southwest (Exit 47). Photo taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 nears the Union County line on the approach to Exit 47 with Lawyers Road. Photo taken 07/11/05. Southbound at the Exit 47 ramp departure to Lawyers Road. Lawyers Road meets North Carolina 51 (Matthews Mint Hill Road) at the Mint Hill community. Photo taken 07/11/05. Straddling the county line, Interstate 485 draws to within 0.75 miles of Exit 47 with Idlewild Road. Photo taken 07/11/05. Idlewild Road meanders northwest to North Carolina 51 and U.S. 74 through typical Charlotte suburban sprawl. It is more of the same southward from the Exit 49 diamond interchange in Union County. Photo taken 07/11/05. U.S. 74 and Interstate 485 come together at a directional-cloverleaf interchange (Exit 51) between Charlotte and Indian Trail. U.S. 74 represents a major corridor between downtown Charlotte (Independence Boulevard) and the Union County seat of Monroe. Photo taken 07/11/05. One mile north of the Exit 51A off-ramp to U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard) west. Independence Boulevard leads directly into downtown Charlotte, upgrading to a freeway after its merge with North Carolina 27 (Ablemarle Road). Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit 51A departs Interstate 485 south. Exit 51B serves U.S. 74 east into Union County and Indian Hill. Monroe is next along the route that continues to Rockingham, Laurinburg, and Wilmington. Some far flung ideas have touted the U.S. 74 corridor east from Monroe as Interstate 30. Photo taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 continues toward the Matthews community and Exit 52 (John Street). Photo taken 07/11/05. Westbound at the Exit 52 diamond interchange with John Street. John Street travels southeast to Old Monroe Road and Stallings and north into central Matthews. Photo taken 07/11/05. North Carolina 16 follows Providence Road southeast from downtown Charlotte to a six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 485 (Exit 57). Photo taken 07/11/05. Weddington lies three miles south along North Carolina 16 (Providence Road) from Exit 57. The state highway ends at Waxahaw in ten miles. Photo taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 westbound at the ramp departure of Exit 57 to North Carolina 16. Providence Country Club lies to the south; Providence's commercial park occupies land on the north side of the interchange. Photo taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 continues west to the Exit 59 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with Rea Road. Photo taken 07/11/05. One mile east of Exit 59 and Rea Road. Areas surrounding the interchange resemble that of Exit 57, except that the golf course community (TPC at Piper Glen) lies to the north and the business center to the south. Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit 59 departs Interstate 485 east at the Elm Lane overpass. Rea Road heads north to North Carolina 51 and Colony Road and south through the sprawling areas of Union County. Photo taken 07/11/05. Entering the Exit 61 partial-cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 521 (Johnston Road) south. Johnston Road continues north from Interstate 485 (Exit 61A) to Park Road through suburban south Charlotte. Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit 61A leaves Interstate 485 westbound for U.S. 521 (Johnston Road) south. U.S. 521 travels 179 miles south from Charlotte to Georgetown, South Carolina. When Interstate 485 opened to traffic, U.S. 521 was relocated onto the beltway between Exits 61 and 65. That overlap was later deemed unnecessarily, and the route was truncated southward. Photo taken 07/11/05. North Carolina 51 (Pineville-Matthews Road) crosses paths with Interstate 485 at the Exit 65 six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 07/11/05. North Carolina 51 travels south (west) into downtown Pineville and to South Carolina 51 and junction U.S. 21. Exit 64B also serves the adjacent Carolina Place Mall. Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit 64A merges onto North Carolina 51 (Pineville-Matthews Road) northbound ahead of Carolinas Medical Center and a pervasive shopping district. Pineville-Matthews Road continues from Interstate 485 to the suburb of Matthews. Photo taken 07/11/05. Exit 64B leaves for North Carolina 51 south. Meeting the freeway ahead is South Boulevard from Charlotte and Pineville Road north (Exit 65). Photo taken 07/11/05. South Boulevard carried U.S. 521 north to Woodlawn Road / Billy Graham Parkway until 2003. Photo taken 07/11/05. Northbound at the six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with South Boulevard (Exit 65). South Boulevard constitutes a heavily developed commercial arterial northward to Woodlawn Boulevard. Photo taken 07/11/05. Interstate 485 at the former split with U.S. 521 (Exit 65). In 2003, AASHTO approved a truncation of U.S. 521 from the terminus at Interstate 85 southward to Interstate 485 Exit 64. The measure eliminated the short one mile overlap of U.S. 521 with Interstate 485 and the alignment northward along South Boulevard. Photo taken 10/05/01. The auxiliary lane gained from the Exit 65 on-ramp becomes the exit-only lane for Exit 67 (Interstate 77 & U.S. 21). The upcoming junction consists of a four-level stack interchange, the only to exist within the state of North Carolina. Photo taken 07/11/05. Since the opening of Interstate 485 northwest to Interstate 85, the TO Interstate 85 shield assembly was scraped off the Exit 67 overhead. Photo taken 10/05/01. One-half mile guide sign for Interstate 77 & U.S. 21 on Interstate 485 westbound. Ramps through the symmetrical stack interchange tie into the adjacent collector/distributor roadways of Interstate 77 & U.S. 21. This allows Interstate 485 motorists accessibility to the nearby Westinghouse Boulevard and Arrowood Road interchanges. Photo taken 10/05/01. Nearing the Exit 67 ramp departure along Interstate 485 westbound. A space was allocated above the Interstate 85 shield on the right-hand panel for an eventual placement of the word "North"; however when Interstate 485 was finished northward, the shield was simply removed. Interstate 77 is the main north-south freeway through Charlotte, joining Mint Hill and the south suburbs with Huntersville and the north suburbs. U.S. 21 tags along for the ride throughout Charlotte. Photos taken 10/05/01 & 07/11/05. Traveling the Exit 67 ramps to Interstate 77 & U.S. 21. Interstate 77 links the city of Charlotte metropolitan with Columbia and Rock Hill, South Carolina. Rock Hill itself is just 11 miles to the south and is considered part of the metropolitan area. Photo taken 10/05/01. Page Updated April 22, 2009.