Growing Concern About Accidents in I-77 Toll Lane Construction Zone

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – There’s growing concern about accidents in the I-77 toll lane construction zone.

A local lawmaker is calling for change one day after a car hit a construction worker.

We’ve learned that construction worker is out of the hospital and is expected to recover.

A car hit him in the southbound lanes near the Brookshire.

“There’s some really simple, basic things the Governor needs to take action and do,” says State Sen. Jeff Tarte.

New numbers from NCDOT show 1,860 crashes in the toll lane construction zone per year, since construction started in November 2015.

That’s up 62 percent from the average 1,150 crashes per year in the three years before construction.

Tarte has some suggestions.

“One is slowing the speed down through the construction zone. Maybe 55,” he suggests.

Tarte is also calling for longer ramps for construction vehicles entering and exiting the highway and shoulder areas where people who have accidents can pull off.

“It’s frustrating because none of this is magic. It’s not that hard to do. It’s just having the wherewithal and taking the initiative,” Tarte says.

Widen I-77 president Kurt Naas says the numbers are disappointing but not surprising.

“Initially they didn’t pave over the rumble strips, so you had all kinds of noise… they weren’t running many water trucks so there were times in the afternoon, with the winds kicking up and it looked like Fallujah,” Naas says.

NCDOT says most crashes are related to congestion.

Department leaders say the increase in accidents is comparable to other work zones across the state.

“Give it time, with the construction that is there now. It is going to be over soon,” says Huntersville resident and former County Commission candidate Jamie Hildreth.

He agrees with NCDOT’s assessment.

“So when you look at the project now and other similar projects, it’s quite normal what we’re seeing,” he says.

The toll lanes are scheduled to be complete by January 2019.

Governor Cooper is expected to announce possible changes to the controversial project next month.

One option is to reduce the number of toll lanes and perhaps buy out Spanish firm Cintra.