Interstate 277 North Carolina
Overview
Interstate 277 encircles the central business district of Charlotte to the east of I-77 and U.S. 21. The north end connects with NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway) leading northwest toward I-85. U.S. 74 overlaps with I-277 along the John Belk Freeway from Wilkinson Boulevard to an expressway along Independence Boulevard east.
Interstate 277 at South Boulevard in Uptown Charlotte. 05/26/19
Route Information
North End – Charlotte, NC
South End – Charlotte, NC
Mileage – 4.46
Cities – Charlotte
- Junctions –
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-277 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
| Location | Vehicles per day |
|---|---|
| I-77 to Exit 1 D | 102,000 |
| Exits 1 D to 1 E | 98,000 |
| Exits 1 E to 2 A | 113,000 |
| Exits 2 A to 2 B | 100,000 |
| Exits 2 B to 3 A | 99,000 |
| Exits 3A to 3B | 93,000 |
| Exits 4 to 5 | 123,000 |
Source: 2021 NCDOT AADT Mapping Application
The I-77 Express Lanes project included reconstruction of the exchange joining I-277 with I-77 and the Brookshire Freeway (NC 16). Flyovers linking I-277 with the Express Lanes were constructed and the ramp from I-277 to I-77 southbound was replaced with a new flyover opened to traffic on February 11, 2019.1 Overall work on the $647 million project ran through December 2020.
History
HistoryResponding to a letter sent by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on October 17, 1974, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) conditionally approved the addition of a 4.4 mile long Interstate loop encircling Uptown Charlotte. The 2.6 mile section from I-77 to the Northwest Expressway near 7th Street was conditionally approved under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 103(e)(1) and the 1.8 mile section of the Northwest Expressway from 7th Street to I-77 under the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 139(a), contingent that it met the geometric and construction standards of the Interstate System. The assigned designation of I-277 was subject to concurrence of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Route Numbering Committee.
AASHTO approved the designation of Interstate 277 on June 29, 1978. I-277 (Brookshire Expressway) opened as the Northwest Expressway (NC 16) between Independence Boulevard and Belhaven boulevard by 1971. Completion of the John Belk Freeway (U.S. 74) occurred in two stages between 1981 and 1987.2
Photo Guides
Photo GuidesNorth End 
– northwest of Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina
North at 
One mile ahead of the multi level interchange with I-77/U.S. 21 on I-277/NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway) north. 03/12/22
Separate ramps depart from I-277/NC 16 north at Exit 5 A for the general travel lanes along I-77/U.S. 21 north and the tolled Express Lanes to Mooresville. 03/11/22
I-77 travels north from Charlotte to Statesville where it meets I-40, and south to Rock Hill just across the South Carolina line. 03/11/22
The left exit for I-77/U.S. 21 south was replaced with a new flyover over a four month period to February 11, 2019. The northbound roadway was also rebuilt to accommodate the direct connector with the I-77 Express Lanes. 03/12/22
NC 16 extends 1.75 miles northwest from I-277 and I-77 along the Brookshire Freeway to Idaho Drive. 03/12/22
I-77 and U.S. 21 intertwine north to Statesville. The succeeding exit along I-77/U.S. 21 south is for Beatties Ford Road. 03/12/22
An end shield appears for I-277 along NC 16 beyond the exchange with I-77/U.S. 21. 03/11/22
South at
Heading south from the exchange with I-85, I-77/U.S. 21 advance south by the Lincoln Heights community to Atando Avenue and Exit 11 for I-277/NC 16. 05/31/21
Separate exits depart from the general travel lanes of I-77/U.S. 21 south and the tolled Express Lanes for I-277/NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway) south. 05/31/21
The Express Lanes conclude southbound within the cloverstack interchange (Exit 11) at I-277 south and NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway). 05/31/21
Exit 11 partitions for NC 16 (Brookshore Freeway) north to McCrorey Heights and Washington Heights and I-277/NC 16 east to Uptown and Belmont. 05/31/21
North at
I-77/U.S. 21 advance a half mile from W Trade Street to Exit 11A for I-277/NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway) south and one mile to the tolled Express Lanes. 05/31/21
I-277/NC 16 angle southeast through the Greenville community to U.S. 29/NC 49 (Graham Street) and the Fourth Ward outside Downtown Charlotte. NC 16 follows I-277 for 2.47 miles to E 3rd Street. 09/17/21
South at
Interstate 277 begins where NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway) spans Irwin Creek at Exit 5 B for I-77/U.S. 21 south. 03/11/22, 03/12/22
The first confirming marker for I-277 south / inner loop stands within the exchange at I-77 and U.S. 21. 05/26/19
A loop ramp (Exit 5A) joins NC 16 south with I-77/U.S. 21 north two miles to Interstate 85. I-277 advances 1.7 miles south to U.S. 74 (Independence Boulevard). 06/01/07
North End Throwback
North West at
Succeeding entrance ramps join I-277/NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway) from parallel W 12th Street at the Fourth Ward in Charlotte, 0.75 miles from the exchange with I-77/U.S. 21. 06/01/12
I-277/NC 16 (Brookshire Freeway) elevate across Norfolk Southern Railroad lines and NC Music Factory Boulevard ahead of simultaneous exit ramps for I-77/U.S. 21. 06/01/12
Left Exit 5B departed from I-277/NC 16 north for I-77/U.S. 21 south to Rock Hill and Columbia, South Carolina. 06/01/12
Exit 5A departed I-277/NC 16 north for I-77/U.S. 21 north to I-85 north and Huntersville. NC 16 (Brookshire Boulevard) meets I-85 at a SPUI in 2.2 miles. 06/01/12
North at
I-77 & U.S. 21 advance 1.5 miles south from the exchange with Interstate 85 to Exit 11 with the Brookshire Freeway. Photo by Carter Buchanan (08/11/13).
Exit 11 parts ways with I-77/U.S. 21 south at the Oaklawn Avenue overpass for both N.C. 16 (Brookshire Freeway) west to I-85 and I-277/N.C. 16 east around Downtown Charlotte. Photo by Carter Buchanan (08/11/13).
South End – southwest of Downtown Charlotte, North Carolina
South 
West at
With Bank of America Stadium just appearing the horizon, Interstate 277 southbound passes Exit 1 E for Stonewall Street, 1.25 miles ahead of Exits 1 C/B for I-77/U.S. 21. 03/12/22
Exit 1C departs I-277 south for I-77/U.S. 21 north. 05/26/19
Exit 1 B loops onto a c/d roadway along I-77/US 21 south toward Rock Hill and Columbia, South Carolina. 03/12/22
U.S. 74 continues from the freeway end along Wilkinson Boulevard beyond Exit 1A for NC 27 (Freedom Drive) west to U.S. 29 (Morehead Street). 05/26/19
An end shield for Interstate 277 stands ahead of the overpass for Freedom Drive (NC 27 east). 05/26/19
East at
U.S. 74 curves away from Wilkinson Boulevard into the I-277 cloverleaf interchange (Exits 1B/C) with I-77/US 21. 05/26/19
NC 27 (Freedom Drive) spans U.S. 74 south from U.S. 29 (Morehead Street) and joins I-277 from adjacent Clarkson Street beyond the loop ramp for I-77/U.S. 21 north to Statesville. 05/26/19
The I-277/US 74 roadways along the John Belk Freeway separate to accommodate left entrance ramps from I-77/US 21. 12/15/16
I-277/U.S. 74-NC 27 combine east along the John Belk Freeway through Uptown Charlotte. I-77/U.S. 21 overlap or parallel one another north to Huntersville, Statesville, Elkin and Wytheville, Virginia. 12/15/16
North at
NC 27 was realigned from parallel Morehead and McDowell Streets onto I-277 east from U.S. 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard) at Freedom Drive to Independence Boulevard by 2021. 05/31/21
A c/d roadway separates from I-77/U.S. 21 north for I-277/U.S. 74 (John Belk Freeway) east, U.S. 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard) west and NC 27 (Freedom Drive) west to U.S. 29 (Morehead Street). 05/31/21
Two lanes partition from I-77 north for the c/d roadway (Exit 9) to I-277, U.S. 74 and NC 27. I-277 returns to I-77 in 1.8 miles. 05/31/21
Exit 9B merges on the left side of I-277/U.S. 74-NC 27 just ahead of the Carson Boulevard off-ramp to Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL Carolina Panthers. 05/31/21
South at
U.S. 29 arcs north from I-277 along Morehead Street, crossing I-77/U.S. 21 just ahead of the exchange with I-277 and U.S. 74 (Wilkinson Boulevard). 05/31/21
U.S. 74/NC 27 overlap with I-277 for 2.36 miles along the John Belk Freeway from Wilkinson Boulevard to Independence Boulevard east of Downtown Charlotte. 05/31/21
A collector distributor roadway separates from I-77 south for Exit 9 to I-277 (John Belk Freeway) east and NC 160 along West Boulevard. 05/31/21
U.S. 74/NC 27 combine east from adjacent Freedom Drive south of Wesley Heights. The two routes join I-277 through the exchange with I-77 ahead of Bank of American Stadium and Uptown Charlotte. 05/31/21
Sources:
- “New I-277 Ramp to I-77 Opens After 4-Month Detour.” WFAE 90.7 (Charlotte, NC), February 11, 2019.
- NCRoads.com: I-277.
Page updated April 11, 2023.