Lowell hears NC DOT presentation on I-85 widening, betterments and potential local costs

NC DOT representatives on May 13 presented Lowell City Council with plans and cost estimates for aesthetic "betterments" tied to the I-85 widening project, urging the town to confirm its level of participation as part of a municipal agreement.

The presenter explained the state has broken the corridor work into three segments (A, B and C), with segment B (includes exit 23 to the Catawba River) expected to be let for construction in July 2025. Officials said, because the project is design-build, communities should not expect dirt to move until roughly 12—16 months after the letting while the selected firm completes design work.

The presentation described aesthetic elements that local governments can opt into: brick veneer on some overpasses, medallions with city seals, stamped concrete in roundabout centers, decorative mast arms and enhanced landscaping. The presenter said some bridges (notably the exit 22 bridge) cannot accept veneer because the structure will not be reconstructed; other overpasses will be removed and rebuilt to allow additional lanes.

Cost figures shown in the briefing included a combined local betterments estimate of $2,779,150 and an NC DOT participation number cited in the presentation; the draft municipal agreement provided a municipal contribution figure but the transcripted formatting of that number was unclear, and council members asked staff to confirm the exact local obligation before committing. The presenter also said NC DOT is willing to work on payment timing and offered options such as quarterly, annual or multi-year payment plans to ease the local burden.

Councilmembers pressed the presenter on several practical points: whether roundabouts remain on the table for specific ramps, the state's status on right-of-way acquisition, and whether the town could obtain NC DOT's 1% participation independently of funding specific local betterment features. The presenter said questions about right-of-way acquisition and final participation calculations are NCDOT matters and that the deadline for a municipal response was the end of May because segment B was being included in the July bidding documents.

Several councilmembers and residents urged the town to use the months before construction to update zoning and economic development plans so the municipality can benefit from new interchange access. "If we're going to spend this kind of money, make it practical and make it safer," one resident said, arguing the town should align land-use changes with the highway work.

What happens next: councilmembers asked staff to seek clarifications from NCDOT (including the exact municipal cost in the draft agreement, right-of-way timelines and whether NC DOT's contribution can be applied if the town scales back certain aesthetic elements). The presenter said she would request additional time if possible but that NCDOT hoped for an answer by the end of May so the betterment language could be included in bid documents.