State considering options to relieve trouble spot on I-85 in Gaston County

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — If you drive Interstate 85 in Gaston County, you’re well aware how miserable it can be sitting in traffic, but the North Carolina Department of Transportation says relief is coming and they want to hear from you.

A proposal to add an extra lane in each direction would expand the interstate from six to eight lanes along a 10-mile stretch from Exit 27 in Belmont to Exit 17 in Gastonia.

Traffic Team 9′s Mark Taylor says he reports on problem spots through that stretch almost every day. He has begun to call it ‘the Bermuda Triangle’ of commuting.

“The Bermuda Triangle on I-85 is basically the northbound side somewhere between the exits 22 to 27,” Taylor said. “That’s Cramerton, Lowell, McAdenville, Belmont and Mount Holly, and one of the reasons it is, is because everyone is merging at the same time on the interstate from each of those towns.”

Ryan Cue is one of 136,000 drivers gets caught in the mess on that stretch of I-85 each day. He says traffic on the interstate is more than just a headache, its time consuming.

“From here it’s a 20 minute drive with no traffic, with traffic it’s about an hour and 20 minutes,” he told Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura.

Before adding more lanes, NCDOT is hosting two meetings in the coming days to get the public’s thoughts on the interstate expansion.

Opportunities to weigh in:

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Gaston College Kimbrell Campus Auditorium, 7220 Wilkinson Blvd. in Belmont

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Gastonia Conference Center, 145 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Gastonia

>>> In the video at the top of this page, Channel 9′s Anthony Kustura speaks with drivers about the frustrating stretch of I-85 and when a reprieve could arrive.

(WATCH BELOW: I-85 bridge to be named after fallen Concord police officer in ceremony Friday)

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