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NCDOT to hear from public on I-485 toll lanes

By Liz Foster
By Liz Foster

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is getting public input on a proposed express lane project on Interstate 485 in southern Mecklenburg County.

Lamont Golightly commutes one hour each day, mostly on I-485. “(There is) a lot of congestion,” he said.

To ease growing traffic in southern Mecklenburg County, NCDOT is planning to put toll lanes in both directions of I-485 for the 17 miles between U.S. 74 and I-77.

State asks for input on I-485 toll lanes in south Charlotte

“I don’t know if this is really the time for it, if there are better ways that we can improve our traffic without having to go in those paying directions,” resident Randy Kirchperg said.

The plan is to convert the wide, inside shoulder near Pineville to a toll lane and build a toll lane on the stretch closer to Matthews.

First, NCDOT is getting input from nearby communities this summer as construction on the controversial toll project on I-77 wraps up.

“I think they need to worry about the first problem first, with (Interstate) 77, and then go from there,” resident Kerrie Hodge said.

Eyewitness News anchor Liz Foster spoke to the Turnpike Authority’s chief engineer who explained how the project is different from the project for I-77.

“There’s a fundamental difference in the (Interstate) 77 project, in that that’s being funded through a public-private partnership, so the private partner is financing the vast majority of that project and in exchange, they have the rights to the toll revenue,” chief engineer Rodger D Rochelle said.

Because the $202 million for the I-485 project would be paid by the state and revenue from tolls would stay local, some drivers seem more eager to support it.

“If it would help me get to work easier and smoother,” Golightly said.

After obtaining more public input this summer, NCDOT will choose a bid for the construction.

Construction is expected to start next summer and last for about three years.

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