I-85/US 321 Interchange Improvement (Gaston)

Description

Currently, commuters from Charlotte, Hickory, and the surrounding areas encounter significant congestion and difficulty merging on and off the I-85/US 321 (North Chester Street) interchange. This interchange, which passes through Gastonia, is the busiest intersection in the city, according to the Gaston Gazette.

To help improve traffic flow, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) plans to begin construction on major improvements to this interchange in 2016. The changes will affect Exit 17 traffic areas onto North Chester Street near the Days Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and surrounding areas.

The new design aims to eliminate congestion choke points in and around the interchange loops by replacing them with free-flowing ramps. The design will lead traffic on U.S. 321 South to merge with I-85 North in what’s known as a “split left” option, just north of the interchange near Rankin Lake Road.

Supporters hope the redesign will improve traffic flow and safety. However, some are concerned about the potential impacts on the area’s infrastructure and that the rising traffic volumes will render this project deficient from the date it is completed.

In Gastonia, this project and other expansions will affect business and land owners at and near the interchange.