I-77 Mobility Partners (a consortium of Cintra, Aberdeen, GCM Grosvenor, and John Laing) announced the opening of the final southern section of I-77 Express toll lanes from I-485 to I-277 in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. Drivers will now be able to use all 26-miles of I-77 Express toll Lanes.

The north section of the express lane was opened earlier this year on June 01, since then more than 2.7 million trips have been taken on the express lanes by over 515,000 different vehicles. The south section was opened on Sunday, November 17. 

I-77 Express runs adjacent to the existing general-purpose lanes. Drivers have the option of using the express lanes for more reliable travel times, the general-purpose lanes or a combination of both. The number of free general-purpose lanes remains the same.

In addition to the building of the express lanes, multiple structures were replaced, improved or newly constructed, including:

• New direct connector ramps at the I-277/Brookshire Freeway into and from I-77 Express
• Replaced I-277 southbound ramp to I-77 Southbound 
• Replaced Oaklawn Avenue bridge and added new sidewalks, bike lanes and lighting
• Replaced LaSalle Street bridge and added new sidewalks, bike lanes and lighting, and extended the I-77 on-ramp all the way to the I-85 interchange
• New direct connector ramps providing access to I-85
• Replaced Lakeview and Hambright Road bridges, and added sidewalks, bike lanes and lighting, and new direct connector ramps to I-77 Express. (Drivers will be able to access the Lakeview Road Direct Connector approximately one week after I-77 Express opens.)
• New pedestrian tunnel under I-77 in Huntersville for future connection of the Torrence Creek Greenway
• New roundabouts at the Griffith Street Bridge for the Town of Davidson
• Installed over one million square feet of noise walls along the corridor
• Rehabilitated the general-purpose lanes in the corridor

The express lanes have signage one-quarter mile ahead of each segment that clearly displays the transponder toll rate applicable to drive that segment. The toll rate displayed when entering I-77 Express is the price motorists will be charged for that segment. The use of express lanes is free, is the vehicle carries three of more passengers and the HOV is switched on. 

I-77 Express is already improving travel in the corridor in both the express lanes and general-purpose lanes. In October, average speeds during the morning rush hour increased by 15%, and speeds during the afternoon rush hour increased by 17% when compared to pre-opening speeds in October of 2018.