All lanes of Interstate 77 in Charlotte were shut down early Friday morning after power lines reportedly fell across the highway. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) said incident 752760 occurred around 6:54 a.m. near the exits for Billy Graham Parkway and West Woodlawn Road, close to mile marker 6.
According to NCDOT traffic cameras, what appear to be downed utility lines are stretched across both northbound and southbound lanes. Officials have confirmed that all six lanes are currently closed as crews work to remove the hazard and restore power.
Traffic on 77 quickly backed up from Huntersville down to the SC line, also causing severe congestion on nearby roads, including South Tryon, Tyvola, and 485. Drivers are being urged to avoid the area and use alternate routes.
Authorities expect cleanup and repairs to continue through the morning rush hour. NCDOT estimates the interstate could reopen around 9:54 a.m., depending on the progress of utility crews and safety inspections.
Motorists traveling through the Charlotte area should plan for significant delays and check NCDOT’s real-time traffic map before heading out.
