CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Among those still waiting for the next leg of I-485 to open are the shoppers and storeowners at Northlake Mall.

It is clear now the new leg that stretches from Oakdale Road to Old Statesville Road will not be open for Thanksgiving travelers or Black Friday shoppers.

At Northlake Mall, about a half-mile down W.T. Harris Boulevard from the highway, mall manager Phil Morosco has become accustomed to delays.

"We were hoping it was going to be open last year," he said.

Northlake Mall is also just off I-77 but having the 485 stretch open would impact the mall's market to the west.

"It's going to be much easier to get to us from Gaston and Gastonia and it will be a much easier commute to get here," Morosco said.

Shoppers at the mall on Wednesday agreed.

"We live out in Huntersville so it'll be convenient for us," said Renee Keller who was waiting in line with her children to see Santa. 

Jennifer Ceely, who was also in line, said, "We've been very patient and I would love to see it finished."

The wait will likely end next week. The contractor on the job, Skanska, says it finished all the major work Tuesday and now it is up to the state to open the road. The Department of Transportation will do an inspection of the road and the new leg will likely open by next Thursday or Friday.

That's too late for Black Friday shopping at Northlake Mall again this year. 

"You know there is not much we can do about it," Morosco said. "But once it opens, from that point forward it will be a plus for us."