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.
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 (Boraks, 2019). Overall work on the $647 million project ran through December 2020.
Mileage by State
| North Carolina | 4.46 mi |
Data Sources
January 7, 2025 NCDOT State Maintained Roads – Primary Routes. https://hub.arcgis.com/datasets/NCDOT::state-maintained-roads-primary-routes/about
History
Responding 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 (Roberson, 2013).
North End 
‐ northwest of Downtown Charlotte, NC
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
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. 07/29/24
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. 09/07/25
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
North End – Past Views
Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)
North 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
North at
I-77/U.S. 21 advance 1.5 miles south from Interstate 85 to Exit 11 with the Brookshire Freeway. Photo by Carter Buchanan (08/11/13).
South End 
‐ southwest of Downtown Charlotte, NC
South West at
With Bank of America Stadium just appearing the horizon, Interstate 277 southbound passes Exit 1 E for Brooklyn Village Avenue, 1.25 miles ahead of Exits 1 C/B for I-77/U.S. 21. 09/07/25
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
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. 09/07/25
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). 09/07/25
