I-277 pedestrian bridge for uptown Charlotte to South End breaks ground at last

Charlotteans are finally getting a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across Interstate 277, a project that’s been discussed for almost two decades.

On Tuesday, city officials and stakeholders celebrated the groundbreaking of the Rail Trail Bridge Project, which will connect users from uptown to South End through the Charlotte Rail Trail.

The $16.4 million bridge will provide the missing link between the Blue Line’s Brooklyn Village Station to under the East Morehead Street bridge north of Carson Street. The project may be completed by mid-2028.

The project was a collaboration between the city, U.S. Bank and Charlotte Center City Partners, a nonprofit focused on promoting growth in the downtown districts of uptown Charlotte, midtown and South End.

“This bridge will be an important link between our region’s primary employment and entertainment hubs: uptown and South End,” Center City’s CEO Michael Smith said in a news release. “Closing the gap in the Rail Trail with this iconic architecture will knit together neighborhoods, expand the (Central Business District) and enhance hospitality connectivity.”

About the Rail Trail Bridge

When the Blue Line was in its formative phase in the late 2000s, the plan was to create a bridge from Brooklyn Village to East Morehead Street. But the project was cut by the city because of budget constraints.

So for about 18 years, pedestrians and bicyclists vibing on footpath alongside the Blue Line would come to an abrupt stop near the I-277 overpass.

To continue into uptown, users have to leave the Rail Trail onto a narrow path on Morehead, then walk along a shared roadway bridge, hoping the I-277 traffic stays in its lane.

In 2019, the city began working on the bridge again, estimating an $11 million cost and completion by 2023. While the cost and the completion date have been pushed back again, the start date is finally here.

The 280-foot bridge will include a 16-foot-wide concrete path for bicycles and pedestrians. There will also be multiple structural arches, cables and aesthetic lighting, according to the release.

Charlotte City Council chose Blythe Construction, a Charlotte-based firm, to build the bridge.

Funding for the project will come from the city, U.S. Bank, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Mecklenburg County, the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization, ArtPlace America, Asana Partners, Crescent Communities, Portman Holdings and Whole Foods, according to the release.

This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM.