I-77

Oct. 4. [Updated 10 am Oct 5] By Dave Yochum. With unusual traffic volumes on I-77 due to traffic being diverted from I-40, Cintra/I-77 Mobility Partners will put a “temporary ceiling” on tolls between Lake Norman and Charlotte.

Tropical Storm Helene devastated parts of I-40 in Western North Carolina limiting travel to the Tennessee line.

NC Sen. Vickie Sawyer

The section of I-40 closed is from Exit 20 heading west.

Bill Russell, CEO of the Lake Norman Chamber, said Sen. Vickie Sawyer and former NC Sen. Jeff Tarte, a Cornelius resident and chamber chair, were instrumental in working with NC Attorney General Josh Stein on the issue.

Gov. Roy Cooper apparently impressed upon Cintra the need to take action.

I-77 Mobility Partners said the cap was the “first step” they took earlier this week.  “We have now gone further by eliminating dynamic pricing which will result in lower tolls on average for drivers who choose to use the express lanes,” said spokesman Rob Boisvert.

Details

It means I-77 Mobility Partners can put a hold on dynamic pricing. Tolls will still change throughout the day based on predetermined rates that will be lower than pre-storm dynamic pricing.

Former NC Sen. Jeff Tarte

However, by removing the traffic management provided by dynamic pricing, more drivers may choose to use the express lanes which could result in slower than usual speeds.

Trickle around effect

Russell said parallel roads like Hwy. 21, Hwy. 115 and West Catawba were unusually congested due to overflow from I-77 attributable to the I-40 closure.

An NCDOT spokesman said I-40 is going to be “indefinitely closed for the foreseeable future” because of massive washouts.

There’s no word yet on exactly what the limit will be on the toll lanes. We will update this story.