Local

I-277 around uptown Charlotte reopens after ‘emergency situation’ shuts down highway

Police and Medic vehicles at the scene of an emergency along Interstate 77 in uptown Charlotte on Friday, March 25, 2022.
Police and Medic vehicles at the scene of an emergency along Interstate 77 in uptown Charlotte on Friday, March 25, 2022. WSOC

All lanes of Interstate 277 have reopened after an “emergency situation” forced the closure of the highway around uptown Charlotte on Friday morning.

“This incident has cleared, but it will take some time for traffic to ease,” the N.C. Department of Transportation said on Twitter at about 9:45 a.m. “Please continue to use caution.”

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said earlier Friday that its officers were trying to de-escalate a situation on the Caldwell Street bridge that passes over the loop around uptown

CMPD’s community policing crisis response team, along with patrol officers and SWAT negotiators, “all worked together” to speak with a person on the bridge, according to a CMPD news release Friday night.

The person “was safely taken into custody” at about 9:20 a.m, and all roads except for Caldwell Street were soon reopened, police said.

Read Next

The person was placed on a stretcher just before 9:30 a.m., WCNC reported.

The highway closed in both directions near North Davidson Street, according to NCDOT. Drivers were advised to use an alternate route.

At 9:15 a.m., police were “still actively working this situation,” CMPD said on Twitter.

The interstate closed at 7:45 a.m., NCDOT officials said in a traffic alert.

This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 8:46 AM.

Joe Marusak
The Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER