CHARLOTTE, NC — Despite pleas not to from residents and local elected leaders, the state DOT has signed the contract for the I-77 toll lane project. Β Construction will start this summer, with the project scheduled for completion by 2018.
The state reached a financial close with I-77 Mobility Partners Wednesday, securing the funding for the public-private partnership. Β NC DOT is investing $95 million in the project, but many feel the money won’t help relieve traffic problems.
“We’re going to take it to court,” said Davidson resident and member of Widen I-77 Vince Winegardner. Β “We’re going to court. Β Instead of costing $15-20 million to stop this, it will now probably cost the state much, much more. Β We don’t like that, because it’s our taxpayer money. Β But we will go as far as we need to go to stop this project.”
“We’re moving forward on it,” said Charlotte City Councilman Vi Lyles (D). Β “We’re going to start construction, and hopefully when it gets in place that we’ll have less congestion and more safe travel route.”
Widen I-77 says it will continue with a lawsuit to stop the project.
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