The I-77 South toll lanes project sparks debate, with residents demanding clarity on design impacts despite officials highlighting bridge upgrades
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ The debate over the proposed I-77 South toll lanes projectย is continuing, even as new details emerge about potential improvements.
State and city leaders say the project would upgrade 17 of 22 bridges and overpasses along the corridor. But for some residents, those updates do not address their core concerns.
โThe city is still misaligned with what the community is asking for,โ Sean Langley, president of the McCrorey Heights Neighborhood Association, said.
Langley said highlighting bridge improvements misses the larger issue for residents, who want more clarity on the projectโs overall design and impact.
โThe city staff and NCDOT are trying to skip over the design and skip to the community benefits and thatโs not where we are at all,โ Langley said.
During a recent presentation, the Charlotte Department of Transportation shared examples of what updated infrastructure could look like, including redesigned ramps and bridges. One example included the Wilkinson Boulevard ramp over Interstate 77, which could feature a dedicated multi-use path.
โToday the existing structure is vehicle centric and doesnโt accommodate bikes but in this case, there is the proposed plan for a dedicated multi-use path,โ Justin Carroll, deputy director of Charlotte Department of Transportation, said.
City leaders are also working to better understand the potential impacts of the project. Council members Victoria Watlington and Ed Driggs recently met with researchers at UNC Charlotte to develop modeling tools that could help guide decision-making.
โAs much as we can learn from now and the time 77 becomes a lock, and RFP in 2027, we want to provide as much, we broadly want to provide modeling and simulation data,โ Watlington said.
Some residents, however, say the process still feels rushed and want more time to evaluate the project.
Shannon Binns, founder and executive Director of Sustain Charlotte, shared a statement after last night’s meeting:
“Rebuilding bridges gets far more expensive when you widen the highway. If the goal is bike and pedestrian access, that can often be achieved by reallocating space on existing bridgesโlike was done on the Central Avenue bridge over I-77โat a fraction of the cost.
Widening bridges from four to six travel lanes also increases vehicle speeds and the crossing distance for pedestrians, which makes conditions more dangerousโnot saferโfor people driving, walking, and biking.
These bridges are being presented as part of the High Injury Network, but the underlying issue is the roads theyโre part ofโnot the bridge structures themselves. Rebuilding bridges without addressing where severe crashes are actually occurring wonโt solve the problem. The crashes are not happening on the bridges.
If weโre going to invest at this scale, we should prioritize projects that reconnect communitiesโlike capping sections of I-77โnot just moving ramps or adding lanes.”
The toll lanes proposal is expected to return to the Charlotte City Council agenda Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday, shortlisted developers are scheduled to meet with city staff and community members as discussions continue.
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