Neighbors embrace I-77 project benefits but worry about future disruption

CHARLOTTE — People who live in the neighborhoods next to Interstate 77 are worried about what happens next after Charlotte City Council voted to reverse course again and support the I-77 South toll lane project.

“Charlotte is just growing, so everyone’s going to have to accept that,” said Karen Withrow, who has lived in McCrorey Heights for 30 years. Her home is a few hundred feet from the I-77 interchange.

Approval of the project means more construction, disruption and noise for the historically Black and brown neighborhoods near the highway. But it also means upgrades, after NC DOT agreed to provide $300 million in community benefits to neighborhoods along the I-77 corridor. Monday’s vote clears the way for the project to once again move forward, since Charlotte’s support accounts for more than 40% of the voting power on the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization. The CRTPO takes its final vote on the project Wednesday night.

Now that the project is moving forward again, neighbors, including Withrow, have lots of questions.

“It’s going to be how many lanes? Are they going to come into the neighborhood and talk to the neighborhood? Because that would be very helpful for anybody who’s living in this area. At least we would know how they’re going to build and how much property or land they’re expecting to have to take to build the extra lanes,” she said.

In February, McCrorey Heights neighborhood president Sean Langley explained why this isn’t just a transportation design issue; it’s a racial issue.

“This only affects those neighborhoods along the I-77 corridor, which happen to be mainly Black and brown neighborhoods,” he said. “Historically, they built these interstates through here, not only in Charlotte, but across the U.S. and often times it would be because the land was the cheapest. But the land was the cheapest because of redlining. So there’s a whole history behind this.”

Some Charlotte City Council members changed their opposition to the project after NC DOT agreed to the $300 million in community benefits.

“I don’t trust the NC DOT,” said Councilman Malcolm Graham, who represents District 2, which covers parts of north and northwest Charlotte. “I want to build confidence with them. And the confidence that we have is the document that we have right here from our city attorney that they will sign tomorrow. Legally enforceable. $300 million or more benefiting Black communities up and down Beatties Ford Road and Nations Ford Road. What is change? This is change,” Graham said.

Withrow said she is pleased about the benefits, but concerned about what comes next.

“Yes, that makes me feel better because even though they may have to expand roads, they still have to at least try to work with communities,” Withrow said. “ So as long as they’re trying to work with us, that makes a big difference. It shows that they care something about the people in the neighborhoods.”

The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization will take its official vote on whether to move forward with the project on Wednesday night.