North Carolina gets $100M grant to help widen Interstate 85

North Carolina is getting $100 million from final 12 months’s federal infrastructure legislation to widen an often-congested stretch of Interstate 85 close to Charlotte and construct facilities for contemporary journey and communications.

The state Division of Transportation’s award is certainly one of 26 grants nationwide introduced on Thursday by the federal authorities, at a complete of $1.5 billion.

The Infrastructure Rebuilding America grant will help the state DOT to widen 10 miles of I-85 in Gaston County from six to eight lanes, which is able to embody enhancements at interchanges, overpasses and railroad bridges.

The cash additionally will assist construct a number of miles of sidewalks, bike lanes and paths crossing over the route, in addition to set up electric-vehicle charging stations and broadband enhancements in Gaston and Cleveland counties, Gov. Roy Cooper’s workplace stated.

“Strengthening infrastructure and making transportation secure, clear and extra resilient will construct a stronger North Carolina,” Cooper stated in a information launch.

The cash originates from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure legislation. Thursday’s spherical of aggressive grants included cash to dismantle Interstate 375, a depressed Detroit freeway constructed by demolishing Black neighborhoods 60 years in the past. The route is being reworked right into a street-level boulevard that can reconnect the encompassing neighborhoods.