South Charlotte commutes are about to come with a bigger price tag. next Saturday 6 a.m., the long-delayed I-485 express lanes are set to open along an 18-mile tolled stretch between I-77 and U.S. 74. The new lanes are fully cashless and priced by vehicle length and time of day, with NC Quick Pass users paying lower rates. Early calculations suggest one-way peak trips will start around $8.20 and climb into double digits for some evening commutes, a shift that could significantly bump weekly and monthly costs for frequent riders.
When the lanes open and how they’ll be priced
The N.C. Department of Transportation and the Turnpike Authority have circled next Saturday at 6 a.m. for the official launch, and say contractors will still be wrapping up lighting, signage and toll-technology work even after traffic starts flowing in the new lanes, according to NCDOT. To start, tolls will be set by vehicle length, time of day and day of the week. Dynamic pricing, which is expected to begin about 12 months after opening, will allow rates to move up or down in order to keep express-lane speeds near 45 mph.
Drivers without transponders will pay higher invoice rates that arrive by mail, while NC Quick Pass customers get discounted pricing. Commuters are being urged to use the online toll calculator to plan trips and compare costs in advance, per NC Quick Pass.
How much will a trip cost?
Local number-crunching with the NC Quick Pass tool shows wide swings in pricing depending on where and when drivers hop on. K104.7 reports that a one-way morning run from Matthews into I-77 can land at about $8.20. Head home on the outer express lane in the evening toward southeast Charlotte and that same trip can push into the $12 range or higher.
Another local scenario published by WSOC put a 5 p.m. ride near $30 without a Quick Pass, and roughly $15 with one, underscoring how timing and entry or exit points can dramatically change the bill.
What officials say
“You can’t widen your way out of congestion,” Logen Hodges, marketing and communications director for the N.C. Turnpike Authority, told reporters, explaining why the agency is leaning on priced lanes as another travel option, according to K104.7. Hodges said drivers should expect lower rates on weekends and “substantial relief” during peak commuting hours, as those who choose to pay can slip past the worst of the bumper-to-bumper traffic…