After nearly a decade of delays, Charlotte’s long-planned Rail Trail bridge has now finally been fully funded.
City Council just approved more than $3 million in new funding to help finally connect South End to Uptown across Interstate 277.
The funding includes over $2.5 million from the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization and a $511,500 donation from Queen’s Table, a nonprofit backed by the Foundation for the Carolinas.
The project will create a continuous path along the Rail Trail, eliminating a long-standing gap near the I-277 overpass. Today, pedestrians and cyclists must leave the trail and navigate narrow sidewalks and traffic along Morehead Street.
Originally proposed in the late 2017, the bridge was cut due to budget constraints and remained stalled for years. It was revived in 2019, but costs have since climbed from $11 million to about $16.4 million.
The 280-foot bridge will feature a 16-foot-wide path for both cyclists and pedestrians, along with arches, cables, and lighting. It will connect directly to the CATS Brooklyn Village Station.
Charlotte-based Blythe Construction is building the project, which broke ground last October. Completion is now expected by mid-2028.
For Charlotte, the bridge will close one of the city’s most frustrating gaps, finally creating a safer and seamless link between two of its busiest neighborhoods, and establishing another icon for our city.
