Skip to main content

How the Center for Innovative Finance Support Office Does Business...

Project Profiles

I-485 Charlotte Outer Loop
Location Charlotte, North Carolina
Project Borrower / Sponsor North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)
Program Areas Project FinanceP3
Mode Highway
Description

This project constructed a new 5.7-mile, eight-lane section of Interstate from west of NC 115 (Old Statesville Rd.) to west of I-85 north of Charlotte. This is the last segment of the I-485 Outer Loop around Charlotte, linking I-77 to I-85. The project also included interchange improvements, service road realignment, and bridge construction. Related but separate projects in the completion of the I-485 Outer Loop include the widening of seven miles of I-85 from four to eight lanes, widening the southern section of I-485 from four to six lanes between I-77 and Rea Road, and the upgrade of the interchange between I-485 and I-85.

Cost $139.5 million
Funding Sources GARVEE bonds, State Transportation Trust Fund disbursements, contractor financing to be repaid by future General Assembly appropriations based on an availability payment schedule conveyed in the contract.
Project Delivery/Contract Method DBF (design-build-finance)
Private Partner Blythe Construction Inc./Wilbur Smith Associates (now CDM Smith)
Project Advisors/Consultants Not available
Lenders None
Duration/Status

Construction began summer 2011

Construction completed spring 2015

Financial Status Closed. Under this DBF contract, the design-builder completed construction over 4.5 years while agreeing to an "extended payment schedule" of 5.5 years.
Innovations
  • North Carolina's first DBF project was estimated to accelerate project delivery by five years.
Related Links/Articles

NCDOT Project Website

Construction Contract Award News Release

Contacts Louis Mitchell, PE
Division Engineer
Tel: (704) 983-4400
Federal Highway Administration | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington, DC 20590 | 202-366-4000
To view PDF files download the Adobe Acrobat Reader®