Interstate 85
93828
225909402
2008-07-15T23:39:22Z
66.227.217.120
/* Alabama state line to LaGrange */
{{Infobox road
|type=I
|route=85
|map=Interstate 85 map.png
|established=
|length_mi=668
|length_round=2
|length_ref={{Fact|date=July 2008}}
|direction_a=South
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=AL|I|65|US|82|SR|6}} in [[Montgomery, AL]]
|junction={{Jct|state=GA|I|75}} in [[Atlanta, GA]]<br>{{Jct|state=GA|I|20}} in [[Atlanta, GA]]<br>{{Jct|state=SC|I|26}} near [[Spartanburg, SC]]<br>{{Jct|state=NC|I|77}} in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte, NC]]<br>{{Jct|state=NC|I|40}} near [[Durham, NC]]
|direction_b=North
|terminus_b={{Jct|state=VA|I|95|US|460}} in [[Petersburg, VA]]
|commons=category
}}
'''Interstate 85''' (I-85) is an [[interstate highway]] in the southeastern [[United States]]. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with [[Interstate 65]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama]]; its northern terminus intersects with [[Interstate 95 in Virginia|Interstate 95]] in [[Petersburg, Virginia]], near [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]].
An addition to Interstate 85 is proposed which will extend the route west from [[Montgomery, Alabama]] to just east of the [[Mississippi]] state line.<ref>[[Volkert and Associates]], [http://www.i85extension.com/ I-85 Extension Corridor Study & EUIS]</ref>
==Route description==
{{lengths table}}
|-
|[[Interstate 85 in Alabama|AL]]
|80
|130
|-
|[[Interstate 85 in Georgia|GA]]
|180
|292
|-
|[[Interstate 85 in South Carolina|SC]]
|106
|172
|-
|[[Interstate 85 in North Carolina|NC]]
|233
|377
|-
|[[Interstate 85 in Virginia|VA]]
|69
|112
|-
|Total
|668
|1,082
|}
{| class="infobox" width="230px"
!style="background: #ccf;"|<big>Major cities</big><br><small>'''Bolded cities''' are officially-designated [[control city|control cities]] for signs<ref>Wolf, Paul S., editor. [http://users.adelphia.net/~pwolf/controlcities.html "Interstate Highway Control Cities"]. As referenced by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, [http://www.ncdot.org/doh/PRECONSTRUCT/traffic/teppl/Topics/C-26/C-26.html "Control Cities For Use In Guide Signs On Interstate Highways"], [[August 9]] [[2004]]. Accessed on [[2007-01-30]].</ref></small>
|-
|
* '''[[Montgomery, Alabama]]'''
* [[Auburn, Alabama]]
* [[Lagrange, Georgia]]
* [[Columbus, Georgia]] (via [[Interstate 185 (Georgia)|I-185]])
* '''[[Atlanta, Georgia]]'''
* [[Anderson, South Carolina]]
* '''[[Greenville, South Carolina]]'''
* '''[[Spartanburg, South Carolina]]'''
* [[Kings Mountain, North Carolina]]
* [[Gastonia, North Carolina]]
* '''[[Charlotte, North Carolina]]'''
* [[Concord, North Carolina]]
* [[Salisbury, North Carolina]]
* [[Lexington, North Carolina]]
* [[High Point, North Carolina]]
* '''[[Greensboro, North Carolina]]'''
* [[Burlington, North Carolina]]
* '''[[Durham, North Carolina]]'''
* [[Oxford, North Carolina]]
* [[Henderson, North Carolina]]
* [[South Hill, Virginia]]
* '''[[Petersburg, Virginia]]'''
|}
===Alabama===
{{main|Interstate 85 in Alabama}}
Interstate 85 begins as a fork off [[Interstate 65]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]]. From here, I-85 parallels [[U.S. Route 80]] until the highway nears [[Tuskegee, Alabama|Tuskegee]]. At Tuskegee, I-85 leaves U.S. 80 and starts to parallel [[U.S. Route 29]], which the highway parallels for much of its length.
I-85 also passes near [[Auburn, Alabama|Auburn]], [[Opelika, Alabama|Opelika]] and [[Lanett, Alabama|Lanett]] before crossing the [[Chattahoochee River]] into [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]].
===Georgia===
{{main|Interstate 85 in Georgia}}
====Alabama state line to LaGrange====
In Georgia, Interstate 85 bypasses [[West Point, Georgia|West Point]] before coming into the [[LaGrange, Georgia|LaGrange]] area. East of LaGrange, I-85 intersects [[Interstate 185]]. Travelers can take I-185 to [[Columbus, Georgia|Columbus]] and [[Fort Benning, Georgia|Fort Benning]]. Travelers can also see the construction of [[Kia]]'s multi-billion dollar plant in West Point, just a few miles south west of LaGrange.
I-85 in Georgia is secretly designated - but not signed as - [[State Route 403 (Georgia)|State Route 403]].
====LaGrange to Atlanta====
From LaGrange, I-85 heads northeastward towards [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]. Before reaching Atlanta, the highway passes the suburbs [[Newnan, Georgia|Newnan]], [[College Park, Georgia|College Park]] and [[East Point, Georgia|East Point]] as well as intersecting [[Interstate 285]] and providing access to [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]. On the south side of the city, I-85 merges with [[Interstate 75]] to form the [[Downtown Connector]]. Just before downtown, the highway goes through a pile-up intersection with [[I-20]]. Afterward, the two highways go through the heart of the city until they split just north of [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia Tech]]. I-75 heads northwest while I-85 heads northeast. However, at the exit, I-75 drivers must take the right three lanes while I-85 motorists must use the left three lanes.
[[Image:Atlanta 75.85.jpg|thumb|right|I-75 co-signed with [[I-85]] in downtown [[Atlanta]]]]
====Atlanta to South Carolina state line====
Continuing northeast of Atlanta, Interstate 85 continues through the northeastern suburbs, bypassing [[Chamblee, Georgia|Chamblee]] and [[Doraville, Georgia|Doraville]], where there is another intersection with I-285 (nicknamed [[Tom Moreland Interchange|Spaghetti Junction]]).
Continuing northbound, drivers will see another interstate spur - [[Interstate 985]], which provides a link to [[Gainesville, Georgia|Gainesville]] - before heading through northeastern Georgia. At [[Lake Hartwell]] - which was formed by the damming of the [[Savannah River]] - I-85 crosses into [[South Carolina]].
Just northeast of the I-75/I-85 northern split, I-85 was rerouted just north of its original route in the 1990s from just northeast of the interchange to near the [[State Route 400 (Georgia)|State Route 400]] interchange.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/garoadwarrior76/SR13_Profile.html State Route 13 Page] Peach State Roads. Retrieved 27 May, 2007.</ref> The original route is now signed [[State Route 13 (Georgia)|State Route 13]].
===South Carolina===
{{main|Interstate 85 in South Carolina}}
Interstate 85 provides the major transportation route for [[the Upstate]] of [[South Carolina]], linking together the major centers of [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]] and [[Spartanburg]] with regional centers of importance.
====Georgia state line to Greenville====
In South Carolina, Interstate 85 bypasses [[Clemson, South Carolina|Clemson]] and [[Anderson, South Carolina|Anderson]] on the way to Greenville. Beginning at Anderson, I-85 widens from four to six lanes. Near [[Powdersville, South Carolina|Powdersville]], U.S. 29 joins I-85 and they run concurrently until they cross the [[Saluda River]].
====Greenville to Spartanburg====
Interstate 85 bypasses just south of Greenville, but provides two links into the city via spur routes Interstates [[Interstate 185 (South Carolina)|185]] and [[Interstate 385|385]]. U.S. 29 splits from I-85 and joins I-185 toward downtown Greenville. I-185 recently saw a major expansion as a toll road south of the city as the Southern Connector was completed. In this section, the roadway is six to eight lanes wide, depending on the location.
Much of the Upstate's industrial, institutional, and commercial base is located along I-85, especially with regards to the growing automotive industry. The North American headquarters for [[Michelin]], along with a major [[BMW]] assembly plant, and the new [[Clemson University]] International Center for Automobile Research are all visible from the road. Additional companies have major operations along this corridor, including [[Hubbell Lighting]], [[Sara Lee]], [[Hitachi, Ltd.|Hitachi]], and [[General Electric]]. I-85 also bypasses [[Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport]], which serves the Greenville-Spartanburg metropolitan area.
====Spartanburg to North Carolina state line====
Instead of going into Spartanburg, I-85 bypasses the city to the north. Its original route is now signed [[Interstate 85 Business (Spartanburg, South Carolina)|Business Loop 85]] and was approved by AASHTO on April 22, 1995.<ref>[http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-085.html Interstate 85@Interstate-Guide.com] Courtesy AARoads. Retrieved 27 May, 2007.</ref>
North of Spartanburg, I-85 narrows from six lanes back to four lanes and bypasses [[Gaffney, South Carolina|Gaffney]]. At Gaffney, motorists can see The [[Peachoid]], a large water tower with its top shaped like a [[peach]], which is one of the state's most important crops.
Much of the terrain between Spartanburg and the North Carolina border is rural in nature.
===North Carolina===
{{main|Interstate 85 in North Carolina}}
In North Carolina, I-85 merges with [[Interstate 40|I-40]] from [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] to [[Hillsborough, North Carolina|Hillsborough]], just west of [[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]]. In [[Alamance County]], the highway is also known as the Sam Hunt Freeway.
====South Carolina state line to Charlotte====
Immediately upon coming into [[North Carolina]], drivers will realize that [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] is still 45 minutes away. This is because Interstate 85 takes a more west to east routing along with [[U.S. Route 29]] and [[U.S. Route 74]], nears Kings Mountain.
Drivers will go through [[Gastonia, North Carolina|Gastonia]] and will eventually reach [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] with the option to bypass using [[Interstate 485]].
====Charlotte to Greensboro====
In Charlotte, I-85 bypasses [[Charlotte-Douglas International Airport]] and turns northeastward just before reaching [[Charlotte center city|downtown Charlotte]]; thus I-85 just bypasses downtown to the north.
The junction between I-85 and [[Interstate 77]] north of downtown Charlotte is a strange configuration. While I-85 passes under I-77, the northbound lanes of I-77 are to the west of I-77's southbound lanes. The travel lanes on I-77 return to their proper positions north and south of this interchange.
North of Charlotte, the highway passes near [[Concord, North Carolina|Concord]], where one can see the [[Lowes Motor Speedway]]. There is much dedication to the [[Dale Earnhardt|Earnhardt]] family as there are many roads named using his name, such as Dale Earnhardt Boulevard and [[North Carolina Highway 3]].
At milepost 98, the northbound lanes of I-85 cross under the southbound lanes, and cross back to the correct configuration near milepost 102. This results in motorists driving to the left of opposing traffic for approximately three miles (5 km). The switch is not very noticeable, because the roadways are separated by up to 400 feet (123 m) of woods in this area. A rest area and Vietnam Veterans memorial are located in the median of this section, so the crossover allows for all exits into the rest area to be normal right-hand exits.
====Greensboro to Durham====
[[Image:I40i85NC.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Interstates 85/[[Interstate 40 in North Carolina|40]] through Burlington, NC.]]
Continuing northbound, I-85 passes though or near Salisbury, [[Lexington, North Carolina|Lexington]] and High Point before reaching Greensboro. At Greensboro, I-85 shifts to its to a new routing, away from downtown. At Exit 120, Business I-85 (old I-85 through town) exits and [[Interstate 40]] begins its overlap with I-85. I-85 intersects with a new I-40 freeway for travelers bound westward towards Winston-Salem. The former I-85 routing nearest downtown Greensboro (now Business I-85/Business 40 (Business 40 joins 85 at "Death Valley")) is also notorious for many traffic accidents and earned the above mentioned nickname "Death Valley".
The two highways are cosigned as they pass through [[Burlington, North Carolina|Burlington]] and [[Mebane]] then separate near [[Hillsborough, North Carolina|Hillsborough]]. Interstate 85 continues to [[Durham, North Carolina|Durham]] while [[Interstate 40]] turns toward [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina|Chapel Hill]] and [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]].
Around this area, one can visit the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] and [[Duke University]] in Durham.
====Durham to Virginia state line====
From Durham, I-85 turns northeastward and heads toward [[Virginia]]. Until replaced during a recent upgrade, signs for [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] used to exist in this part of North Carolina even though the end of the road is in Petersburg, Virginia.
===Virginia===
{{main|Interstate 85 in Virginia}}
Starting from the [[Virginia]] border, drivers will pass [[South Hill, Virginia|South Hill]] and [[McKenney, Virginia|McKenney]] before heading into a large forest of trees. After the forest, Interstate 85 reaches Petersburg and ends at [[Interstate 95 in Virginia|Interstate 95]]. The highway is briefly cosigned with [[U.S. Route 460]] from a few miles west of Petersburg in [[Dinwiddie County, Virginia|Dinwiddie County]] to I-95.
The last four miles (6 km) of I-85 near Petersburg once formed the southern end of the [[Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike]], which was completed in [[1958]]. The tolls were removed in 1992 after [[Interstate 295 (Virginia)|Interstate 295]] was completed.<ref>Kozel, Scott [http://www.roadstothefuture.com/RPT_I295.html Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (I-95/I-85) and I-285] Retrieved 27 May, 2007.</ref>
Virginia's portion of I-85 also the only Interstate highway in the state with a posted [[speed limit]] greater than 65 miles per hour (105 kilometers per hour). It was raised from 65 mph to 70 mph (113 km/h) on July 1, 2006, by the state legislature.
== History ==
I-85 was rerouted around Greensboro in 2004; and it split with I-40 eight miles (13 km) east of the original departure point. I-40 now runs with I-85 along the bypass to the southern/western end and I-40 continues on a new freeway alignment at Exit 121. Despite its reroute around Greensboro, the overall length for I-85 in North Carolina (233 miles/373 km) remains the same as before.
==Future==
{{future road|section}}
There is currently a plan by Alabama state transportation officials to extend I-85 across western [[Alabama]], where it will connect with [[I-20]] near [[Cuba, Alabama]]. This extension will roughly follow the route of U.S. 80, going through or bypassing [[Selma, Alabama|Selma]] and [[Demopolis, Alabama|Demopolis]].<ref>Hinnen, Jerry. [http://www.demopolistimes.com/articles/2005/01/18/news/news02.txt Shelby shares views with Hale, Greene counties] Posted by the Demopolis Times, 17 January, 2005.</ref> This section is also envisioned by some as part of a proposed [[Interstate 14]].
Interstate 85 is scheduled to have several new spur routes in the future. [[Interstate 285 (North Carolina)|Interstate 285]] is also planned to follow part of the [[U.S. Route 52]] freeway from Lexington to Winston-Salem, both in North Carolina. [[Interstate 785]] is currently planned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to run from Greensboro to [[Danville, Virginia]]. The proposed route would follow the current U.S. 29 corridor.
==Major intersections==
* [[Interstate 65]] in [[Montgomery, Alabama]]
* [[Interstate 185 (Georgia)|Interstate 185]] near [[LaGrange, Georgia]].
* [[Interstate 285]] near [[College Park, Georgia]]. I-85 intersects this highway twice.
* [[Interstate 75]] in Atlanta. The two highways run concurrently through much of the city.
* [[Interstate 20]] in Atlanta.
* [[Interstate 985]] near [[Lawrenceville, Georgia]].
* [[Interstate 185 (South Carolina)|Interstate 185]] near [[Greenville, South Carolina]].
* [[Interstate 385]] near Greenville.
* [[Interstate 26]] near [[Spartanburg, South Carolina]].
* [[Interstate 585]] near Spartanburg via [[Interstate 85 Business (Spartanburg, South Carolina)|Business Loop 85]]. An extension is currently underway that will extend I-585 to I-85.
* [[Interstate 485]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. I-85 intersects I-485 twice.
* [[Interstate 77]] in Charlotte, North Carolina.
* [[Interstate 40]] in [[Greensboro, North Carolina]]. They stay connected until [[Hillsborough, North Carolina]].
* Future [[Interstate 73]] in Greensboro.
* [[Interstate 95 in Virginia|Interstate 95]] in [[Petersburg, Virginia]]. ([http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Petersburg,+Virginia&ll=37.241262,-77.449493&spn=0.492298,0.720154&hl=en Map])
==Auxiliary routes==
{{3di|85}}
==See also==
* [[Death Valley (North Carolina)]]
* [[Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike]]
* [[Significant rivalries in the NFL#NFC South|The I-85 Rivalry]]
=== Business routes ===
*[[Interstate 85 Business (North Carolina)|Interstate 85 Business Loop]] in [[High Point, North Carolina]] and [[Greensboro, North Carolina]].
* [[Interstate 85 Business (South Carolina)|Interstate 85 Business Loop]] near [[Spartanburg, SC|Spartanburg]], [[South Carolina]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.i85extension.com/ I-85 Extension Corridor Study] - Corridor study and environmental impact statement by the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
{{interstates}}
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{{al browse|previous_type=US|next_type=AL|previous_route=84|next_route=85|route=[[List of Alabama State Routes|AL]]}}
{{nc browse|previous_type=NC|previous_route=84|route=[[North Carolina State Highways|NC]]|next_type=NC|next_route=86}}
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{{Atlanta Expressways}}
{{Metro Charlotte expressways}}
[[Category:U.S. Route 1|085]]
[[Category:Interstate 85| ]]
[[Category:Interstate Highway System|85]]
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[[zh:85號州際公路]]