A version of the following article appeared in the Monday, August 10, 2026, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C.
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Reader question about south Charlotte interchange
by Lindsey Banks
It's time for another edition of “You Ask, We Answer,” where we tackle questions submitted by Ledger readers.
Today, Ledger reader David wanted to know why one of south Charlotte's busiest interchanges looks a little rough around the edges.
David asks:
Subscriber here with a burning question I think of every time as I exit off 485 to Johnston Road. Is this the best landscaping we are going to be seeing at the exit? Weeds and unkept areas? The toll road through Monroe looks better than what I am seeing. Where are the day lilies and wildflowers and mowed grass? We can do better! Do we need to set up a volunteer organization to make some things happen and bring some beauty to that area? Especially with all the new folks coming to visit the new Wegmans.
Thanks for the question, David. It’s pretty timely, considering the Charlotte area’s first Wegmans grocery store is supposed to open in Ballantyne in two months.
The good news is that the current condition isn't necessarily permanent.
According to the N.C. Department of Transportation, the I-485 Express Lanes project is still an active construction project, meaning the contractor — not NCDOT — is responsible for maintaining the landscaping throughout the corridor. Once the state accepts the completed project, which is expected to happen by late fall, NCDOT will take over routine maintenance.
From there, the maintenance plan is modest. NCDOT says it plans to mow the area five times each year between April and the end of October, pick up litter monthly and remove large debris as needed.
If the City of Charlotte were to take over maintaining the landscaping in the future, the department says the area could receive more extensive beautification than NCDOT typically provides, which would include things like sod and wildflower beds.
As for David's idea of organizing volunteers, NCDOT says residents are welcome to participate in its Adopt-A-Highway and Sponsor-A-Highway programs, but volunteers aren't allowed to landscape highway interchanges because of safety concerns. Volunteer groups would need to stick to low-traffic roads near neighborhoods, schools and churches.
So while the Johnston Road interchange may not be living up to its potential today, drivers should see improvements once construction wraps up and the state takes over long-term maintenance.
Have a burning question that needs some journalistic investigation? Let us know at [email protected]