CHARLOTTE, USA FEBRUARY 23, 2026. ACCIONA has been shortlisted for the I-77 Southside Express Lanes project in North Carolina, a major transportation infrastructure initiative with an estimated capital expenditure of approximately $3.2 billion aimed at improving mobility and long-term performance along a critical regional corridor.
The I-77 Express Lanes project, structured as a Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) Public-Private Partnership, involves a comprehensive upgrade of an 11-mile corridor extending from the South Carolina state line to the I-277/NC 16 interchange in Charlotte. The project will add two new express lanes with full shoulders in each direction to the existing six- to eight-lane freeway, significantly enhancing capacity and reliability for commuters and freight traffic.
In addition to the new express lanes, the project scope includes the reconstruction of 13 interchanges, four grade separations, and four railroad bridges, as well as the delivery of new access points and direct connectors. The project includes a 50-year concession period following commencement of service.
ACCIONA is part of the Queen City Infrastructure Partners team, together with Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP and Balfour Beatty Developments, Inc. ACCIONA is the lead contractor, with Janssen & Spaans Engineering, Inc. serving as lead designer.
The shortlisted teams for the project include several international and North American infrastructure developers, contractors, and designers, reflecting the scale and strategic importance of the I-77 Southside Express Lanes initiative for the Charlotte region and the broader Southeast United States.
Being shortlisted for this project underscores ACCIONA’s strong track record in delivering complex transportation infrastructure projects and its continued commitment to sustainable, high-quality infrastructure solutions across North America.
KEY PROJECTS
ACCIONA continues to expand its presence in the United States, delivering major infrastructure projects nationwide.
In Georgia, ACCIONA is part of a consortium delivering the design, construction, financing and 50-year operation of the SR400 Express Lanes, one of the largest highway projects underway in the United States.
In Louisiana, the company is leading the design and construction of the Calcasieu River Bridge, a critical infrastructure upgrade that will enhance connectivity and safety along Interstate 10.
In North Dakota and Minnesota, as part of the Red River Valley Alliance, ACCIONA is delivering the Fargo-Moorhead River Flood Diversion Channel project, a P3 flood protection initiative working alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to protect more than 235,000 residents from severe flooding.
In the water sector, the company recently completed the renovation of the Tampa Bay desalination plant and will design, build and operate and maintain the Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant in California, strengthening long-term water supply resilience.
ACCIONA is a global company and a leader in the provision of regenerative solutions for a decarbonized economy. Its business offer includes renewable energy, water treatment and management, eco-efficient transportation and mobility systems, resilient infrastructures, etc. The company has been carbon neutral since 2016. ACCIONA recorded sales of $30 billion in 2024 and has a business presence in more than 40 countries. www.acciona.com
