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South Charlotte could get I-77 toll lanes ()
Officials say the cost to build express lanes on Interstate 77 south of Uptown has increased to $3.7 billion.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina transportation officials are inching closer to a decision on whether to greenlight more express lanes on Interstate 77 in Charlotte.
For the last year, financial advisors have been analyzing the best way to move forward with the proposal to build NC Quick Pass lanes between Uptown Charlotte and the South Carolina border. The options were to use state money or to partner with a private developer to build the lanes.
Now, NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) officials believe if they don’t move forward with a private builder, the toll lanes will likely never happen. That’s because they said the state cannot afford to finance the project on its own.
Officials told WCNC Charlotte the express lanes would be the most expensive transportation project in state history, partly because every interchange on I-77 between Uptown and South Carolina would need to be rebuilt.
Last year, officials predicted the project would cost over $2 billion. Now, the price tag is around $3.7 billion.
If transportation officials find a private developer for the job, the state would contribute $600 million and the private company would cover the rest.
A few years ago, the developer behind the 77 express lanes north of Uptown Charlotte asked to build the southern lanes. However, local leaders have previously said if they move forward with the project, they will open the bid to every company that’s qualified.
On Tuesday, NCDOT briefed the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners on this information. Many elected leaders said they were against the express lanes because they only benefit people who can afford them.
“I just can’t support it,” Commissioner Laura Meier said.
“I’m not real sure what the benefit is for the majority of regular citizens here in Mecklenburg County,” Commissioner Arthur Griffin added.
The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization board is set to vote in October on whether to move forward with public-private plan or not. If they vote no, NCDOT said research and work on the express lanes project would stop.
The board is comprised of elected leaders from Charlotte, the county and surrounding towns. Based on population, Charlotte’s vote has the biggest impact on the decision.
“Charlotte has 31 out of 68 votes and therefore is heavily weighted in terms of the outcome of the decision,” explained Ed Driggs, the Charlotte city councilman who represents the city on the board.
Driggs said he plans to push for work on the project to continue but will consult his colleagues on the city council before the vote.
“I think doing nothing on I-77 is not an option,” he told WCNC Charlotte on Wednesday.
While county leaders want the project to have more state funding to avoid using a private developer, Driggs thinks going private will take the burden off of taxpayers.
“Instead of having taxpayers generally have to absorb the cost of the road, the people who choose to use those managed lanes are the ones who will be paying for it,” Driggs said.
According to I-77 Mobility Partners, which owns the northern express lanes, about 300,000 drivers use them a month. The company’s recent report also says speeds in general lanes have increased 15% since its express lanes were built.
Express lanes on I-485 starting near the South Carolina state line and traveling to Independence Boulevard in Matthews are already under construction.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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