Nearly $70 million. After fifteen days of asking, the state finally said.

04min | 09/04/2026

Description

For fifteen straight episodes this show ended the same way: nobody at NCDOT would say what Charlotte owes if it walks away from the I-77 South toll lanes. Today the state answered — nearly $70 million in design costs, about $60 million of it consultant fees, with a single planning firm taking roughly $28 million. And the spending starts in November 2018, six years before the regional planning organization ever voted to back the project. Charlotte holds over 40% of the weighted vote, so Charlotte carries most of the bill if the region says no on September 23rd. Plus: a century-old uptown building comes down for a four-story data center, a tuberculosis case is confirmed at Alexander Graham Middle School, and four things for your long weekend.

CLT Daily is written, hosted and produced by Steve Bouboulis, an independent journalist covering the Queen City. Got a tip, a document, or a story the city isn't telling? Reach him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebouboulis/

CLT Daily — Charlotte's independent daily briefing. New episodes every morning. cltdaily.com

Sources this episode: WFAE, NCDOT, Mecklenburg County Public Health, Charlotte Film Festival

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Description

For fifteen straight episodes this show ended the same way: nobody at NCDOT would say what Charlotte owes if it walks away from the I-77 South toll lanes. Today the state answered — nearly $70 million in design costs, about $60 million of it consultant fees, with a single planning firm taking roughly $28 million. And the spending starts in November 2018, six years before the regional planning organization ever voted to back the project. Charlotte holds over 40% of the weighted vote, so Charlotte carries most of the bill if the region says no on September 23rd. Plus: a century-old uptown building comes down for a four-story data center, a tuberculosis case is confirmed at Alexander Graham Middle School, and four things for your long weekend.

CLT Daily is written, hosted and produced by Steve Bouboulis, an independent journalist covering the Queen City. Got a tip, a document, or a story the city isn't telling? Reach him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebouboulis/

CLT Daily — Charlotte's independent daily briefing. New episodes every morning. cltdaily.com

Sources this episode: WFAE, NCDOT, Mecklenburg County Public Health, Charlotte Film Festival

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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