Toll Road Firm Pans Effort To Relieve I-77 Congestion: Report

MOORESVILLE, NC — Commuters on Interstate 77 could see some relief soon from traffic jams with the approval of a $47 million plan to convert the shoulders of the busy highway into traffic lanes during rush hour, according to media reports.

The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) passed a plan this week to allow motorists to drive on I-77's shoulders from Interstate 485 up to Mooresville when traffic is congested, WSOC-TV Channel 9 reported.

"Crews would harden parts of the shoulder between Exit 19 in Charlotte and Exit 35 in Mooresville," WSOC reported. Motorists would not have to pay a toll to use the extra lane.

However, the company that's building toll lanes on I-77 is objecting to the shoulder plan, WSOC reported.

Cintra USA is constructing I-77 Express, which includes two toll lanes in each direction between Charlotte and Exit 28 in Cornelius, and one toll lane in each direction from Exit 28 to Exit 36 in Mooresville, according to the company's website. The northern section of the 26-mile project opened on June 1.

A company spokesperson told WSOC that Cintra is "very disappointed" with the CRTPO's decision to open the shoulders of the interstate highway.

Cintra says the move is unnecessary, since the new express lanes are helping to increase traffic speeds and reduce travel times on I-77.

But an official who represents the city of Cornelius on the CRTPO said that language in North Carolina's contract with Cintra allows the state to harden the shoulders of I-77 for use as traffic lanes at certain times, WSOC reported.