CHARLOTTE – The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced today that it will open a Community Engagement Center for the I-77 South Express Lanes project on Monday, March 30. The Center is located within the project corridor at 1023 W. Morehead St. Suite 150. The Center builds on a broader engagement initiative launched by NCDOT to hear directly from communities along the corridor, which is central to the project's development.
“The Community Engagement Center is meant to be a place where we can listen, learn and lead together," said NCDOT Secretary Daniel Johnson. “We recognize the importance of understanding both the urgent transportation needs of this corridor and the lived experiences of the communities along it. That perspective is essential as we move forward, and we remain committed to open dialogue with the community as the project develops."
The Center will serve as an ongoing resource and meeting space for surrounding communities, providing project information, offering one-on-one meetings with NCDOT staff, and creating opportunities to discuss potential community enhancements and beneficial programs.
Visitors can make virtual and in-person appointments online or by calling 1‑800‑254‑0498. Drop-in appointments are also available.
The Center will also host community events and provide updates on project milestones and topic areas of interest for the community. To receive updates about upcoming events at the Center, please visit the I-77 South Express Lanes project page and enter your email or phone number. Project updates, events, and project milestones will also be made available on the project web page.
Hours of Operation and Appointments
The Center is open to during the following hours*:
- Monday through Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Closed
*State and federal holidays may impact operating hours.Project BackgroundI-77 South is one of the most congested corridors in the state, with a crash rate 2.8 times higher than the statewide average for urban interstates. On average, there are five crashes daily and five fatalities annually on the corridor.
To address these concerns, the I-77 South Express Lanes project was initiated at the request of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) and is included in the 2026 – 2035 State Transportation Improvement Plan. The project is designed to improve safety, address increasing congestion, and provide more reliable travel times between the Brookshire Freeway and the South Carolina state line.
The project is currently in the procurement process, and design is only 10-15% complete. Preliminary design maps that have been released represent early-stage concepts and are intended to support planning and public input. As the project progresses, designs will continue to be refined with a focus on minimizing impacts and maximizing community benefits.
Project ImpactsCurrent preliminary designs indicate that historic Black communities such as McCrorey Heights, Biddleville, Lincoln Heights, and the West End will not be displaced. North of the John Belk Freeway, no residential displacement is anticipated. NCDOT has committed to working closely with any potentially affected residents and tenants, ensuring access to resources, relocation assistance, and legal protections under federal law. A Right of Way process is in place to support impacted individuals throughout each step.
With community input, the project could also bring many benefits based on the ideas of residents, including reconnection of neighborhoods previously split by the interstate, improved greenway connectivity and other enhancements. NCDOT is working with developer teams to collect ideas and input from residents on what should be prioritized in project design.
RESOURCES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
Project Website: ncdot.gov/projects/i-77-south-express-lanes
Property Owner Resources: ncdot.gov/projects/Pages/property-owner-resources.aspx
Email: i-77south@ncdot.gov
Phone: 1-800-254-0498
Spanish and Other Languages: 1-800-481-6494