CHINA GROVE – With a potential winter storm brewing this weekend, construction crews shut down part of Interstate 85 South in China Grove from midnight to 6 a.m. today to speed up work, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Crews were to work in the southbound lanes between Mile Markers 69 and 64 in Rowan County near China Grove. The left lane closed at 9 p.m. Tuesday, and the southbound side of the highway closed completely at midnight. All lanes should be open by 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The closure is needed so crews can safely enhance pavement line painting, replace reflective pavement markers and make guardrail adjustments ahead of potential winter weather later in the week.

The detour in place sent all traffic off the highway at Exit 68, then south on U.S. 29 for about five miles, where vehicles were to turn left on Lane Street and go two miles to get back to I-85 South.

Drivers were urged to slow down and use caution as they approached the closure signs, and to anticipate traveling through the area may take longer than usual because of the detour.

For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.