NCDOT reveals new plan for I-77 tolls input after safety concerns canceled tour
The North Carolina Department of Transportation announced the location of its upcoming community engagement center, where residents can ask questions and voice their thoughts on the Interstate 77 South toll lane project.
The engagement center will open on Monday at 1023 W. Morehead St. suite 125, right next to the interstate near the Bank of America Stadium.
The announcement follows NCDOT’s decision earlier this week to cancel a planned tour of the neighborhoods most impacted by the project, citing “potential circumstances that could not be safely accommodated.”
In a news release, NCDOT Secretary Daniel Johnson said the center is an opportunity to “listen, learn and lead together.”
“We recognize the importance of understanding both the urgent transportation needs of this corridor and the lived experiences of the communities along it,” said Johnson, who was supposed to join the canceled community tour on Monday as part of NCDOT’s extended engagement initiative. “That perspective is essential as we move forward, and we remain committed to open dialogue with the community as the project develops.”
NCDOT did not make clear what safety concerns led to the cancellation or whether it will be rescheduled. The agency’s plan was based on a “small invited group” and on Sunday the agency received notice that its original plan was “no longer feasible,” according to NCDOT spokesperson Jen Goodwin.
NCDOT plans to add toll lanes to long 11 miles of I-77 running from the Brookshire Freeway exit to the South Carolina border. The goal is to ease congestion.
Residents for months have expressed concerns about the project’s design and impact. The canceled tour would have shown officials where and how the project would affect nearby neighborhoods.
The new engagement center is another way NCDOT is planning to address resident concerns. Earlier this month, the agency announced it was delaying the I-77 project until June to collect additional community feedback.
The engagement center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. It will be closed on Sundays.
Desiree Mathurin contributed to the reporting of this story.
