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

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A plan to put a toll lanes on I-485 in south Charlotte has been in the works for years, but the North Carolina Department of Transportation wants to know if the public supports the plan.

The 17-mile stretch between I-77 and Independence Boulevard is notorious for traffic backups.

“This segment of I-485 is routinely congested; it’s going to get worse as we go through the coming decades,” said Jennifer Thompson, for NCDOT.

The plan is to put a toll lane in each direction to ease congestion.

“This is something that’s been in the works for several years that we have stakeholder support for,” Thompson said.

In fact, the lanes are already built, they’re just unused. The state wants to get public support on the plan.

The NCDOT will hold two meetings next week to get feedback and possibly make changes to the project.

LINK: I-485 Public Meetings

Mecklenburg County commissioner Jim Puckett is a vocal opponent of the I-77 toll lane project that is now underway.

He wants the public to get involved with the I-485 project.

“Just because it sounds like a good idea today doesn’t mean that is what you will get. So do your due diligence, show up and make sure the process works,” Puckett said.

The project would be different from the lanes that Cintra is building on I-77. I-485 would be run by the state and wouldn’t be built to turn a profit.

But Puckett worries that could change down the line.

“If they start to see a profit motive also, you may see this one change like the one on I-77,” Puckett said.

But the idea of easing the congested drive on I-485 in south Charlotte is appealing to drivers.

“The city is so congested, so it would be nice if we had more lanes,” driver Emily McMahon said.

The NCDOT doesn’t have a timeline for when the toll lanes will be built, but it expects the bidding process to start in the spring.

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