Hundreds Share Input – More Opportunities Ahead
Hundreds reviewed preliminary designs, received information from project engineers in English and Spanish and shared feedback about the I-77 South Express Lanes project during public meetings on Nov. 12 and 13.
CHARLOTTE – The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the N.C. Turnpike Authority are engaging the community about the I-77 South Express Lanes project. On behalf of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, NCDOT is improving 11 miles of Interstate 77 from the South Carolina state line to I-277/N.C. 16 (Brookshire Freeway) in uptown Charlotte.
This stretch of I-77 hasn’t been widened since the 1990s and since 2010, the population of the Charlotte region has grown by nearly 20%. More than 160,000 vehicles use this section of I-77 every day, and crash rates are 2.5 times higher than the statewide average.
Public Meetings and Engagement
NCDOT and NCTA hosted two public meetings on Nov. 12 and 13 with more public engagement efforts planned in the coming months. More than 500 residents and stakeholders participated in the November public meetings. Leading up to the November meetings, the team has also engaged the community during 25 small group meetings with over 800 residents since January 2025. These public and small group meetings mark the beginning of a collaborative effort to gather community input and refine preliminary project designs.
During the public meetings, attendees reviewed early concepts and shared feedback that will help shape the final design of the project. No decisions have been made regarding property impacts or final design elements.
The maps currently available on the
project website represent preliminary concepts only and will be shaped by public feedback.
Key Issues and Priorities
The purpose of these meetings is to ensure transparency and minimize impacts to communities and the environment. NCDOT and NCTA are following federal requirements to consider natural and human environments, historic properties, cemeteries and other sensitive areas during the design process.
State law requires toll projects in North Carolina to be approved by the local planning organization. CRTPO first submitted the I-77 South Express Lanes project for prioritization in 2014.
In October 2024, CRTPO asked NCDOT to pursue a Public-Private Partnership (P3) for the project and formed a joint working group to set priorities and develop key contract terms. Some key priorities include:
- Optimizing use of express and general-purpose lanes with toll rate caps
- Encouraging a competitive procurement process
- Increasing transparency throughout all phases
- Providing transit benefits
Community Involvement Continues
Additional public engagement efforts and opportunities for feedback will be announced in the coming months and small group meetings with neighborhood and local organizations will continue. Community input remains essential to delivering the best version of the project, and NCDOT and NCTA are committed to gathering as much feedback as possible during the project design process.
Those unable to attend public and small group meetings in person can still participate by completing the
online survey available on the
project website, where additional information about the project is available.