I-485 South Express Lane tolls are increasing. Why? Because they’re being used
The North Carolina Turnpike Authority is adjusting toll rates on five segments of the I-485 South Express Lanes beginning on Sunday.
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The state says the shift comes from increasing demand since the lanes opened in February. Rates will climb in busier areas and during peak traffic times, but won’t climb more than 25 cents per segment, officials said. Tolls will also drop in quieter zones and during slower periods to balance traffic flow.
The I-485 South Express Lanes has seen over 750,000 trips so far since opening, according to the Turnpike Authority. NCTA manages traffic flow in the state and could adjust prices again in the future.
The new targeted adjustments are expected to help keep traffic moving. NCTA said it is continuing to monitor traffic conditions for any future changes.
The $346 million express lane project on I-485 included adding one express lane in each direction between Interstate 77 and Independence Boulevard (U.S. 74). The project also added a free I-485 lane in each direction between Rea Road and Providence Road, a new interchange at Weddington Road and improvements at the John Street interchange.
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The 2007 fast lanes study identified the need for managed lanes in the corridor as well as other parts of the Charlotte region. At least 150,000 drivers a day were using the I-485 stretch in 2020, according to the state, with the number likely to have increased since then.
The I-77/I-485 South intersection was ranked 44th worst in the U.S. for truck bottlenecks, according to a study released in February by the American Transportation Research Institute, based in Washington, D.C.
The adjusted toll rates for drivers can be calculated on the NC Quick Pass website. An NC Quick Pass account can help drivers save 50% on tolls, the state says.
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