CHARLOTTE — Local cities and towns could be required to pay up to $70 million to the state if the Interstate 77 express lanes project in South Charlotte is canceled, according to North Carolina Department of Transportation documents obtained by Channel 9.
Under the North Carolina state budget, any municipality that votes to kill the I-77 South express lanes must reimburse NCDOT for costs the state already incurred before local leaders voted to halt the project.
State records obtained by Channel 9 detail how the $70 million was spent before local leaders voted to stop the project. The total includes $59 million for engineering and consulting contracts.
The state department also spent nearly $5 million in legal fees related to the express lane project.
The next Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization meeting is scheduled for Sept. 23, where officials are set to address support for the express lanes project.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.
Breaking: NCDOT says $70 million has been spent on the I-77 South tolls project so far. This is how much opposing communities will have to pay back if the CRTPO votes against tolls again later this month pic.twitter.com/jcZkZmUpnF
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) September 4, 2026
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