After years of construction, delays, fines, all I-77 express lanes open

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After four years of construction, all the sections of the Interstate 77 express lanes opened early Sunday morning.

Drivers are now able to use all 26 miles of the express lanes. The lanes stretch from I-277 in Charlotte to Mooresville.

“This section of the express lanes is new, so it will take time for drivers to get used to the new lanes. We encourage drivers who choose to use the lanes to allow extra time to get used to the new travel option," said Jen Thompson with NCDOT. "Although the lanes are open, there may still be some work going on in this area, so drivers need to use caution."

Past coverage: 

• Report: Nearly 200 more problems found in I-77 toll lane construction zones
• NCDOT responds to safety concerns in I-77 toll lane construction areas
• Local lawmakers unveil new bill to give drivers relief from I-77 toll lanes
• A look at how much drivers on I-77 can expect to pay in toll rates
• Just how expensive will I-77 tolls be?

Officials said drivers will have the option of using the express lanes or the general-purpose lanes.

They said there are the same number of free, general-purpose lanes, and there will be signs a quarter-mile ahead of each segment of the toll lanes that show the rate drivers would pay.

Officials said the tolls will shift to dynamic pricing Dec. 1, changing as often as every five minutes. They said the price will depend on the segment length, time of day and demand for the express lanes.

The trip is free if you have three people in the car and if you switch on your HOV.

Drivers can learn more about the rates here.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said Cintra will still face $30,000 a day in fines because, despite the lanes opening, there is still work going on with the project. So far, the fines have added to over $6.6 million.

It is unknown when the project will officially wrap up.

“The little bit they opened ahead of time, we saw a big difference in the traffic pattern, so we’re happy with it. It’s good," driver Keith Rericha said.

According to officials, average speeds in October increased during morning rush hour by 14 percent and by 17 percent during afternoon rush hour, compared to pre-opening speeds in October 2018.

Drivers can get an NC Quick Pass to pay for the tolls. If drivers don’t have one, a camera will take a picture of their license plate and a bill will be sent to them in the mail.

“Since I-77 Express opened on June 1 in the Lake Norman area, more than 2.7 million trips have been taken on the express lanes by over 515,000 different vehicles,” Javier Tamargo, CEO of I-77 Mobility Partners, said. “We are proud to make this private investment to develop the first managed lanes in North Carolina."

"Through partnership with NCDOT and Sugar Creek Construction, we are able to deliver this project and other infrastructure improvements along the existing portion of I-77 sooner than traditional funding would have allowed for the State of North Carolina and motorists. I-77 Express adds a travel option to a key interstate corridor and a new component to the Charlotte region’s comprehensive transportation network," Tamargo said.

Cox Media Group