North Carolina Construction News staff writer
The future of the I-77 South Express Lanes project is uncertain after Charlotte City Council voted 6–5 to withdraw its support for the toll-lane expansion along Interstate 77, as the North Carolina Department of Transportation unveiled new conceptual designs aimed at reconnecting communities along the corridor.
The council voted 6-5 to withdraw support for the toll-lane expansion, which would add managed express lanes along Interstate 77 from Uptown Charlotte to the South Carolina state line. A planned special meeting to revisit the issue was later canceled, leaving the city’s position questioned.
Also, in response to ongoing community input, the North Carolina Department of Transportation released six conceptual “cap and stitch” designs that reimagine how the corridor could be reconnected in areas divided by the highway. The concepts include pedestrian bridges, landscaped crossings, greenways and potential cap structures over sections of I-77.
“In light of recent developments that may impact the project’s funding, and, in particular, reconnection opportunities, the “Reconnecting the Corridor Summit” has been postponed,” the NCDOT press release states. “The department hopes to reschedule the event soon, which was intended to be a community design sprint, giving corridor residents the opportunity to hear directly from a nationally recognized cap and stitch expert, dialogue with one another, and provide real-time feedback that would strengthen the concepts before they advance.”
Designs focus on reconnecting neighborhoods including McCrorey Heights, Biddleville, the West End, Revolution Park and Southside Park and are intended to improve walkability, public space and community access across the corridor.
In a May 18 news release, NCDOT emphasized the concepts are tied to the broader express lanes project and would advance only if the toll-backed delivery model moves forward. The agency also noted that any rescission of regional support could prevent the project—and associated reconnection elements—from proceeding.
Community advocacy group Action NC has continued to oppose the project, saying it could compound inequities and further divide West Charlotte neighborhoods. The organization said members planned to monitor council proceedings closely following the recent vote.
Sustain Charlotte and local planning groups have proposed alternative visions for the corridor that emphasize capping portions of I-77 and restoring neighborhood connections. Their concepts were presented to county officials.
The I-77 South Express Lanes project remains included in the state’s 2026–2035 State Transportation Improvement Program and is currently undergoing federal environmental review. A 2024 NCDOT analysis concluded the project is only financially feasible as a toll-backed public-private partnership.
“For more than fifty years, I-77 has carried hundreds of thousands of vehicles through south Charlotte every day, and it has also separated communities from growth and opportunities,” said Brett Canipe, PE, NCDOT Western Deputy Chief Engineer. “The cap and stitch concepts we are releasing represent a real opportunity to reconnect what was disconnected. We want the public to see them, study them, and tell us what they think.”
The concepts are available for review and public comment at the I-77 South Express Lanes project site.