The Maney & LauRen Morning Show

New Update On When I 485 Construction In South Charlotte Will Be Done

Author Maney

February 6th 4:38 PM

If you live in the South Charlotte or have been down that way in the last 3 years the one constant you’ll find is construction. The busy popular highway I 485 has been under construction for what seems like almost 10 years! Right after the initial widening was done, the work on an additional toll lane started. So I was curious about the time line and was surprised when I looked it up. So when will I 485 construction in South Charlotte be all said and done?

According to the NC.gov website construction on the highway began during the summer of 2019. All construction should be wrapped up by the end of 2024! What!? Another 9 months as I write this!? Apparently this project was supposed to be done earlier, like in 2022 earlier. Obviously there were unforeseen issues like weather, employment and oh ya, a pandemic that caused the delay.

Major improvements are happening up and down 485 from the 77 interchange all they way to Independence Boulevard. Big projects include a wider bridge on Ballantyne Commons Parkway, a new interchange at Weddington Road, and improvements at the John Street interchange in Mathews. Not to mention a huge direct access route on Westinghouse Boulevard. In fairness these are major construction projects, new over passes and new exchanges are not small tasks. I travel this road daily and watch the work projects going on day and night.

When all is said and done, and construction is wrapped up by December of 2024, then it’s my job to purchase EZ passes for my cars. I hope and pray that the days of being jammed up in traffic on 485 in Ballantyne are done! Here’s to hoping we don’t have anymore delays!

Steve Maney’s radio career has taken him all over the US, from interning with Howard Stern to working with Elvis Duran, this radio veteran now calls Charlotte and Kiss 95.1 home. He is Kiss’ staple entertainment guy writing about his thoughts on local news and funny topics like the name of the male Karen. It’s so much to know, but Maney will deep dive into any topic to get you a great piece to read.

North Carolina City Is On Best Drivers List

Congrats to a North Carolina city that’s on the “Best Drivers” list. A lot of people think they’re good drivers, with research showing that 80% of drivers believe they’re better than average. Of course, there are bad drivers everywhere, but some cities are home to more of them and a new report tells us which ones they are.

Clever Move compared the 50 metro areas with the largest populations in the U.S. across eight metrics including average annual traffic fatalities, days of precipitation per year, percentage of uninsured drivers in the state and Allstate’s best drivers rank. Raleigh is the North Carolina city that landed at number 8 on the best drivers list!

Based on their research, Jacksonville, Florida is home to America’s worst drivers. They have the highest number of alcohol-related driving deaths – 66% more than the average city in the study.
Florida is actually the worst state for drivers, as three cities – Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa – are in the top five for worst drivers.
Memphis, is the deadliest for drivers, with two times more fatal car accidents per 100-thousand residents than the national average. I lived in Memphis. It’s true, the drivers there are crazy. They drive fast and wreckless.

On the flip side, New York City is home to the best drivers in the country, according to the study. It has the fewest drunk driving deaths and the second-fewest driving fatalities per year.

Here’s the Top 10 “Best Drivers List” :

10, Los Angeles California
(Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers)

You can’t drive in LA without being at least a descent driver! All the traffic to swerve around!
9. Washington D.C.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

DC has a bunch of highways that connect to smaller roads. Bridges you need to not drive off of, so yeah solid drivers!
8. Raleigh North Carolina
(Photo by Logan Mock-Bunting/Getty Images)

Raleigh wins everything when it comes to North Carolina. If you’re asking me, Charlotte has better drivers!
7. San Jose, California
(Photo by David McNew/Newsmakers)

Another Cali win. I lived in Sacramento and thought those drivers weren’t very good.
6. Buffalo, New York
(Photo by John Normile/Getty Images)

Yes. Buffalo should be on the list. It snows a ton, if you can drive in that you’re a hero driver!
5. San Francisco, California
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Lots of traffic here. The streets are hilly, you need to know how to drive in this city! Solid.
4. Boston, Massachusetts
(Photo by Darren McCollester/Newsmakers)

Boston drivers are not patient. The speed, and cut you off. So yeah good drivers!
3. Salt Lake City, Utah
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

So if you have to avoid wild animals and deal with snow, you’re a good driver!
2. Minneapolis, Minnesota
(Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

It’s too damn cold to drive in the winter! Lack of cars on the roads equals better drivers haha!
1. New York New York
(Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

See Boston but on a much bigger level!