With a rapidly growing population and roadways becoming more congested, road-building funds are being stretched in North Carolina. As a result, tolls are becoming an increasingly important part of the solution to finance major construction projects throughout the state.
To help keep pace with the state’s transportation needs, the N.C. Turnpike Authority plays a critical role in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s operations by studying, planning, developing, building, operating and maintaining toll facilities.
In 2002, the Turnpike Authority was created by the state legislature to advance toll facilities to provide drivers more choices in how they reach critical destinations while also reducing congestion along heavily traveled routes. Tolling also provides an alternate revenue stream for building new commuter routes.
In December 2012, North Carolina’s first modern toll road, the Triangle Expressway, opened as an 18.8- mile, six-lane toll road that utilizes All-Electronic Tolling (AET) technology while improving regional mobility and setting the stage for future tolling projects.
In 2018, the 19.8-mile Monroe Expressway opened, stretching from U.S. 74, near Interstate485, in Mecklenburg County to U.S. 74, between the towns of Wingate and Marshville in Union County.
A number of other projects are under construction, in the bidding process, or in the planning and development stages.