North Carolina Construction News staff writer
The ACS Group, through its companies ACS Infra and FlatironDragados, has been shortlisted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to advance to the next phase of procurement for the Interstate 77 South Express Lanes project in Mecklenburg County.
The approximately $3.2 billion project, identified as STIP No. I-5718, would add managed express lanes along 11 miles of I-77 from the South Carolina state line to I-277/N.C. 16, also known as the Brookshire Freeway. The improvements are aimed at enhancing travel reliability, strengthening regional connectivity and creating a more resilient corridor for commuters and freight traffic.
The shortlisted team, known as Carolina Connectors, includes ACS Infra as developer and equity sponsor alongside Meridiam and Kiewit Development Company. Design and construction would be led by FlatironDragados, with support from Kiewit.
The broader design team includes Kiewit Engineering as lead design engineer, as well as Carolinas-based firms Infrastructure Consulting & Engineering and Wetherill Engineering, and global design firm Arcadis.
Project partners said they plan to engage with local communities and stakeholders to identify solutions that address community concerns while advancing transportation improvements in the region.
Interstate 77 is one of the most heavily traveled north-south corridors in the Southeast, providing direct access to Uptown Charlotte and serving as a key commuter and freight route across central and western North Carolina. Travel times along the 11-mile stretch can approach an hour during peak periods.
The proposed project would add two express lanes in each direction, including shoulders, along with interchange upgrades and new direct connectors. Transportation officials say the managed lanes are intended to reduce congestion and provide a more predictable travel-time option for drivers, transit services and high-occupancy vehicles.