RALEIGH, N.C. – On November 27, 2018, The Monroe Expressway opened to provide travelers a congestion-free option when traveling through and in Union County. During the first 12 months of operations, more than 4.7 million vehicles drove the Monroe Expressway, averaging 393,000 vehicles per month. In the past 12 months from October 2022 to September 2023, more than 7.6 million vehicles drove the Monroe Expressway, averaging 634,000 vehicles per month. Of the 7.6 million vehicles taking the Monroe Expressway, 12 percent are commercial trucks, providing more reliable travel time for North Carolina’s freight and truck traffic.
The Monroe Expressway is an all-electronic toll road extending 18 miles from U.S. 74 near Interstate 485 in Mecklenburg County to U.S. 74 between the towns of Wingate and Marshville in Union County.
The four-lane roadway provides seamless travel without having to slow down or stop to pay tolls.
Pat Kahle, President and CEO of the Union County Chamber of Commerce who was present at the opening of the Monroe Expressway recently said, “The Monroe Expressway has been a wonderful addition to Union County’s road network. Not only does it provide a faster alternative for our residents to get where they want to go, it is taking through traffic off of U.S. 74, so it is easier for people to shop at businesses located on our community’s busiest corridor.”
James “JJ” Eden, Executive Director of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority said, “We are in the business of working with local communities to address their critical infrastructure needs. The Monroe Expressway continues to be very popular with a nearly 40 percent increase in traffic since opening.”
Drivers that travel with a NC Quick Pass transponder save 35 percent on tolls in North Carolina. Currently, there are more than half a million NC Quick Pass accounts in the state. On the Monroe Expressway, more than half of all customers choose to travel with a transponder to save on tolls.
To provide outstanding customer service for NC Quick Pass customers there are two local Customer Service Centers, one in Monroe and one in Charlotte. In FY2023, the two service centers assisted 18,700 and 10,550 visitors, respectively.