Rail Trail Pedestrian Bridge Over I-277

Temporary Closure

Aug. 3, 2026 - Starting at 12AM on Monday, Aug. 17, the off-ramp to College St. at Exit 1E off I-277 will close. Contractors will work in the south abutment, install rebar, set up forms and prepare to pour concrete. They will also build barrier walls, install storm water pipe and start fabricating the bridge on site. The ramp will stay closed the duration of construction and re-open in late 2027.

Project typeBridges, Transportation
Project budget$23.8 million (funding amount includes all costs associated with the project such as planning and design, acquiring the right of way, utility relocation, consultant fees, construction, signalization, permits and landscaping)
Project phaseConstruction
Construction contractorBlythe Construction

Above: Consultant rendering of the Rail Trail Bridge. For illustrative purposes only. Specific features and amenities could change.

map showing ramp closure at College St and detour taking South Blvd/Caldwell ramp to Caldwell, then up Brooklyn Village Ave to reconnect to College Street

College Street Ramp Closure at Exit IE - Aug. 17, 2026 - Late 2027

To access College Street, southbound travelers may continue using Exit 1E and use the South Boulevard/Caldwell Street ramp to turn right on South Caldwell Street, then left on Brooklyn Village Avenue. South College Street is the next intersection. Please refer to the map above.

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Project Overview

This project will provide a new bicycle and pedestrian connection over I-277 from the CATS Blue Line Brooklyn Village Station to where the existing Rail Trail ends under the East Morehead Street bridge, north of Carson Street. The project will seamlessly provide Rail Trail users direct access to and from Center City and South End. The design includes a concrete deck, two cable stay arch bridge spans, and various improvements to walkways leading up to the bridge approach areas on both sides of I-277.

Project Goals

To provide safe, direct, car-free access between Uptown and South End for bicyclists and pedestrians
To provide connectivity to the Rail Trail and remove I-277 as an obstacle between South End and Center City

Public Involvement

The project team will engage the community at various points in the planning, design and construction process. The following public meetings have taken place:

Nov. 21, 2019: Project kickoff at Charlotte Powerhouse Studio (now Charlotte Urban Design Center)
Dec. 7, 2021: Update meeting at Charlotte Design Center

Vicinity Maps

map of project area with a yellow line depicting the bridge spanning I-277 from approximately West Morehead Street on the south side and Brooklyn Village Station on the north side

A map showing a hashed line depicting a railway between the Brooklyn Village and Carson Stations and an orange block over I-277 representing the bridge