Interstate 277 (North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 277 is a 4.41 mi (7.1 km) loop in central Charlotte, North Carolina
. The southern terminus (Interstate 77
/U.S. Route 21
) is located on the southwest side of downtown. I-277 loops around the downtown area and reconnects with I-77/U.S. 21 north of uptown. It is known by two names: the John Belk Freeway along the southern and eastern edges of downtown, and the Brookshire Freeway along the northern edge. The roadway continues past the northern terminus as North Carolina Highway 16, which connects to Interstate 85
. North of I-85, the roadway continues as Brookshire Blvd as it goes through northern Charlotte. Similar to Interstate 485, although not a full beltway (unless a segment of I-77 is included), it is signed both north–south and with inner/outer directions
. It is the first non-contiguous loop route in the United States to formally utilize the inner/outer orienting concept. I-277 is one of three ring roads serving the Charlotte area; Interstate 485 and Charlotte Route 4
are the others.
(1961–69) and John Belk
(1969–77). The Brookshire was originally the Northwest Freeway (this name change took place in 1975), and the Belk is the newer stretch that was opened to traffic in two phases—the first in 1982 and the second in 1988. In addition, the Belk was the first section to be signed as I-277; the designation did not extend onto the Brookshire until 1987. John Belk's family is also the same one who founded the Belk
department store chain. The two mayors are also the subjects of Brookshire & Belk: Businessmen in City Hall, a book written by Alex Coffin that highlights their accomplishments for Charlotte over the years. Most local residents, as well as traffic reports airing on local radio and television stations, use the names "Belk" and "Brookshire" when referring to I-277 rather than the highway number.
I-277, as well as parts of I-77 and I-85, is notorious for being dark at night because its streetlights are not in working order. There have been plans to replace the streetlights on this freeway, most of which have been in place since the early 1970s. A proposal to replace the streetlights with solar power was denied in 2007 because these lights weren't deemed bright enough (however, two solar-powered streetlights were operating on I-77 at the LaSalle Street exit until November 2007), so new electric-powered streetlights would have to be installed instead. A relighting project finally got underway in October 2008, which involved setting up new light towers at the Independence Boulevard and I-77 exits, as well as installating new lights and removing the old nonworking ones on the Brookshire portion of the interstate. This project was completed by the spring of 2009. A similar project is currently being planned for the Belk portion of the interstate. In addition, highly reflective signs are being installed on the entire loop to give drivers better vision at night without the aid of additional lighting.
In April, 2010, the new color-coded attraction guide signs were added along I-77 & I-277 to help visitors reach popular destinations, including: Bank of America Stadium
, Time Warner Cable Arena, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame
among others.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The southern terminus (Interstate 77
Interstate 77 in North Carolina
In the U.S. state of North Carolina, Interstate 77 is a Interstate Highway, which serves the city of Charlotte and the Western Piedmont.-Route description:...
/U.S. Route 21
U.S. Route 21
U.S. Route 21 is a north–south United States highway of , from Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina to Wytheville, Virginia.-South Carolina:...
) is located on the southwest side of downtown. I-277 loops around the downtown area and reconnects with I-77/U.S. 21 north of uptown. It is known by two names: the John Belk Freeway along the southern and eastern edges of downtown, and the Brookshire Freeway along the northern edge. The roadway continues past the northern terminus as North Carolina Highway 16, which connects to Interstate 85
Interstate 85 in North Carolina
In the U.S. state of North Carolina, Interstate 85 scales the state for from the South Carolina border to the Virginia border. As the second-longest interstate in the state , it provides an important link between the cities of Atlanta, Georgia, Charlotte, Greensboro, Richmond, Virginia and...
. North of I-85, the roadway continues as Brookshire Blvd as it goes through northern Charlotte. Similar to Interstate 485, although not a full beltway (unless a segment of I-77 is included), it is signed both north–south and with inner/outer directions
Inner/outer directions
Inner/outer directions are labels that identify the direction of travel on opposing lanes of traffic on certain ring roads and beltways. They can be used to sign individual routes that encircle a city or metropolitan area, where east–west and north–south orientations cannot be applied uniformly...
. It is the first non-contiguous loop route in the United States to formally utilize the inner/outer orienting concept. I-277 is one of three ring roads serving the Charlotte area; Interstate 485 and Charlotte Route 4
Charlotte Route 4
Route 4 is an 18.6-mile partial ring road around Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, marked along four-lane state-maintained secondary roads; it is sometimes considered to use Interstate 85 to complete the loop, though this part is not signed...
are the others.
Route description
History
The two freeway names were taken from former mayors of Charlotte, Stan BrookshireStan Brookshire
Stanford Raynold "Stan" Brookshire was a mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina.Brookshire served as mayor from 1961 to 1969. He was the longest-serving mayor until 1975, when his immediate successor, John M...
(1961–69) and John Belk
John M. Belk
John Montgomery Belk was head of the Belk, Inc. department store chain and mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina for four terms . He was the son of William Henry Belk, who founded the first Belk store in Monroe, N.C., in 1888.A Democrat, he was the longest-serving mayor of the city of Charlotte until...
(1969–77). The Brookshire was originally the Northwest Freeway (this name change took place in 1975), and the Belk is the newer stretch that was opened to traffic in two phases—the first in 1982 and the second in 1988. In addition, the Belk was the first section to be signed as I-277; the designation did not extend onto the Brookshire until 1987. John Belk's family is also the same one who founded the Belk
Belk
Belk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
department store chain. The two mayors are also the subjects of Brookshire & Belk: Businessmen in City Hall, a book written by Alex Coffin that highlights their accomplishments for Charlotte over the years. Most local residents, as well as traffic reports airing on local radio and television stations, use the names "Belk" and "Brookshire" when referring to I-277 rather than the highway number.
I-277, as well as parts of I-77 and I-85, is notorious for being dark at night because its streetlights are not in working order. There have been plans to replace the streetlights on this freeway, most of which have been in place since the early 1970s. A proposal to replace the streetlights with solar power was denied in 2007 because these lights weren't deemed bright enough (however, two solar-powered streetlights were operating on I-77 at the LaSalle Street exit until November 2007), so new electric-powered streetlights would have to be installed instead. A relighting project finally got underway in October 2008, which involved setting up new light towers at the Independence Boulevard and I-77 exits, as well as installating new lights and removing the old nonworking ones on the Brookshire portion of the interstate. This project was completed by the spring of 2009. A similar project is currently being planned for the Belk portion of the interstate. In addition, highly reflective signs are being installed on the entire loop to give drivers better vision at night without the aid of additional lighting.
In April, 2010, the new color-coded attraction guide signs were added along I-77 & I-277 to help visitors reach popular destinations, including: Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium
Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East...
, Time Warner Cable Arena, and the NASCAR Hall of Fame
NASCAR Hall of Fame
The NASCAR Hall of Fame honors drivers who have shown exceptional skill at NASCAR driving, all-time great crew chiefs and owners, and other major contributors to competition within the sanctioning body. NASCAR committed itself to building a Hall of Fame and on March 6, 2006, the city of Charlotte,...
among others.
Exit list
The whole route is in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County.| Mile | # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |||
| 1A | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||
| 1B | – Rock Hill, Columbia Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan... |
||
| 1C | |||
| 1D | Carson Boulevard | No southbound exit | |
| 1E | College Street, South Boulevard, Caldwell Street, Stonewall Street, Kenilworth Avenue | ||
| 2A | South end of NC 16 overlap | ||
| 2B | North end of US 74 overlap | ||
| 3B | Exit number not signed southbound | ||
| 3C | Church Street, Tryon Street Downtown | Exit number not signed southbound | |
| 4 | Southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||
| 5A | |||
| 5B | – Columbia Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan... |
||
| Northbound exit and southbound entrance |