Major Delays Expected Near Bank of America Stadium and South Tryon St Today

Morning Commute Overview

Good morning, Charlotte. As we head into this Saturday, March 7, 2026, motorists should prepare for a mix of event-related congestion and several active construction zones across the Queen City. While early morning traffic is moving steadily on I-77 and I-85, significant delays are anticipated later today due to a high volume of events in the Uptown area and long-term infrastructure repairs in the southwest and university regions.

Uptown and Event Traffic Alerts

Drivers should expect heavy congestion in Uptown Charlotte starting in the late afternoon. Two major events are scheduled for this evening that will impact local street traffic and parking availability:

• Bank of America Stadium: Charlotte FC hosts Austin FC tonight at 7:30 p.m. Expect high pedestrian activity and slow-moving traffic on Mint Street, Graham Street, and Morehead Street starting around 4:30 p.m.
• Spectrum Center: The 'Boys 4 Life' Tour is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. This will coincide with the soccer match traffic, likely bottling up the I-277 loop and Trade Street.
• Ovens Auditorium: The 8th Annual Queen City Blues Festival begins at 7:00 p.m., which will cause localized delays on Independence Boulevard (US 74) and Briar Creek Road.

Active Roadworks and Closures

Several NCDOT projects are impacting travel today. Please plan your routes accordingly to avoid the following zones:

• South Tryon Street (NC-49): A southbound inside lane remains closed for a broadband utility project between West Arrowood Road and I-485. This closure is active through March 10 and is causing significant backups during mid-day hours.
• Wildlife Road Closure: In Southwest Charlotte, Wildlife Road remains closed for a major pipe replacement project. Drivers are being detoured via Shopton Road West and Steele Creek Road. This closure is expected to remain in place for the next two weeks.
• I-85 Bridge Construction: Crews are active between Harris Boulevard (Exit 45) and Mallard Creek Church Road (Exit 46). Watch for narrow lanes and reduced speed limits in both directions.
• I-485 Paving: Ongoing paving operations near the US-74 interchange may result in intermittent ramp closures throughout the day.

Public Transit Updates

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) has issued a notice regarding the Independence Boulevard Busway. The busway is currently closed for manhole and road repairs, requiring the following express routes to utilize general-purpose lanes: 40x, 46x, 52x, 64x, and 74x. Expect minor delays for these services. Additionally, while the LYNX Blue Line is operating on a normal Saturday schedule today, passengers should be aware that single-tracking maintenance is scheduled to begin this coming Monday.

Safety Reminder

With the Holi Celebration taking place at Elon Recreation Center until 3:00 p.m., please exercise extra caution on Ardrey Kell Road due to increased family traffic and shuttle activity. As always, avoid distractions and follow all posted detour signage in construction zones.