CHARLOTTE — The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced Monday it is extending the public comment period for the Interstate 77 toll lane expansion project by two months.
The decision follows a week of public outcry and a formal demand from Charlotte city leaders for a pause on the controversial development.
NCDOT officials admitted during a Charlotte City Council meeting that previous community engagement efforts were not sufficient.
The extension aims to allow more time for residents to review the proposal, which currently features elevated toll lanes that have drawn criticism from neighborhood advocates.
The public comment period, which was originally scheduled to end in March, will now remain open until June. The department said the extension provides a window to gather feedback from residents and neighborhood advocates living along the Interstate 77 corridor. Currently, the proposed expansion design is only 10% to 15% complete.
Brett Canipe, the Western Chief Deputy Engineer for NCDOT, represented the department at Monday’s meeting. He emphasized that the project is in its early stages and that officials intend to be more transparent.
“We want to make sure that there was a time for folks to understand that we’re here to hear from them, to hear their priorities,” Canipe said.
He added that because the design is so early in development, “the design as everyone’s seen it today is no more than 10-15% complete.”
Neighborhood advocates expressed skepticism about whether the extension will result in changes to the controversial elevated toll lane design.
Sean Langley, president of the McCrorey Heights Neighborhood Association, said he believes the department is still committed to its original plan.
“Yes, we want to listen to the community, but we still want to proceed with the elevated toll lane, and that’s not something that the community is necessarily in support of,” Langley said.
A final version of the project design is not expected until at least the end of 2027. Canipe explained that the department is focusing on minimizing the physical impact of the new lanes on the surrounding area.
“What’s key is the footprint that we’re establishing with that elevated design is very narrow, and each of these teams will then be competing to make that design even better and more efficient,” Canipe said.
Charlotte City Council members noted that the department has acknowledged flaws in its previous communication strategy.
Council Member Ed Driggs said the state is departing from its standard operating procedures to address the local outcry. “NCDOT has now recognized that their usual process with these things is not gonna cut it,” Driggs said.
Council Member Joi Mayo noted that while the department has made some progress, “we still have work to do.”
The project involves a $100 million regional bonus allocation meant to provide community benefits.
City leaders intend to conduct a detailed review of these funds to provide direction for Charlotte’s representative on the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization.
North Carolina’s transportation secretary is scheduled to meet privately with neighborhood leaders this week.
NCDOT officials will also attend a City Council Transportation Committee meeting on Thursday to discuss the project further.
VIDEO: Debate over I-77 toll lanes heats up at Charlotte City Council meeting
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