Lane Closures on Wilkinson Blvd and Independence Busway Repairs Impact Friday Commute

Charlotte Traffic and Commute Overview for February 20, 2026

As we head into the final commute of the week, Charlotte drivers should prepare for several ongoing construction projects and transit detours. While major interstate corridors like I-77 and I-485 are largely clear following the conclusion of overnight maintenance, specific arterial routes are experiencing significant lane reductions that could add 10 to 15 minutes to your morning and afternoon travel times.

Major Roadworks and Lane Closures

The most significant impact today is on US-74 (Wilkinson Boulevard). Both directions of Wilkinson Boulevard are currently restricted to limited lanes due to a major broadband infrastructure project. These closures also affect the Exit 9 on-ramp from I-85. Work is expected to continue through early March, so commuters traveling between Belmont and Uptown should consider using I-85 as a primary alternative.

Additionally, motorists will notice multiple shoulder closures throughout the day for logo sign maintenance. Impacted areas include:

• Billy Graham Parkway (SR-5901): Shoulder closures heading both north and south.
• I-85 Southbound: Closures between mile markers 45 and 46, as well as near mile marker 29.
• NC-24 Eastbound and NC-16 Northbound: Intermittent shoulder work will be present until approximately 9:00 PM tonight.

On NC 115 (Old Statesville Road), significant upgrades are now underway. Work crews are focused on the section between the Iredell County line and Cornelius Street, as well as the stretch from Hambright Road to Damson Drive. Drivers in the Huntersville and North Charlotte areas should expect flaggers and minor delays as milling and resurfacing work continues.

Public Transport and CATS Alerts

Commuters utilizing the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) should be aware of a critical closure on the Independence Boulevard Busway. Ongoing manhole repairs have rendered the busway unusable, resulting in detours for several major routes, including the 40x, 46x, 52x, 64x, and 74x. Buses are currently being rerouted to general-purpose lanes, which may lead to schedule delays during peak hours.

Riders are also reminded that the February service changes remain in effect. Schedule adjustments have been implemented for Route 11 (North Tryon), Route 16 (South Tryon), and Route 22 (Graham Street) to improve on-time performance. If you are using CATS Micro services today, ensure you schedule your trip in advance via the mobile app or customer service line.

Commuter Tips

With the Independence Busway repairs and Wilkinson Boulevard construction, East and West Charlotte routes are under the most pressure today. If you are traveling through these corridors, the CATS-Pass app is the best tool for real-time bus tracking. For those on the roads, allow extra following distance in work zones near NC 115 as crews finalize pavement markings.