Will NCDOT Fine Cintra $10,000 A Day for Missing Toll Lane Deadline?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Thursday, Spanish-firm Cintra will miss a second deadline to finish the controversial I-77 toll lane project. We’re asking NCDOT if it will enforce a $10,000 a day fine against the company.

So far, a spokesperson says NCDOT is reviewing yet another request to extend the deadline, but hasn’t made a decision.

”If you have a job to do, then do it,” says University City resident Jason Eddie.

Frustrated drivers say Cintra has already had enough time to finish the project.

”I mean, look here, if I have a deadline at work to, ‘hey you need to get this done by Monday morning,’ and I don’t get it done, I get fired,” Eddie says. “Who’s upholding the standards?”

NCDOT let the original January 7th deadline pass, citing, “work added to the contract.”

The northern part of the toll lanes opened in June, while work continues closer to Charlotte.

Michelle Ferlauto says she isn’t surprised Cintra will miss the deadline. She logs driver safety complaints with the Lake Norman Transportation Safety Partnership.

”Why should taxpayers constantly have to eat the bullet on this?” she asks. “It’s bad enough they’re going to be charged tolls. It’s bad enough that they’ve had to live through construction.”

Drivers like Robert Johnson say they want to see the fine enforced come Thursday.

”Because they should have had it done,” Johnson says.

A spokesperson for Cintra’s LLC sent WCCB Charlotte a statement saying changes can occur during construction and “…I-77 Mobility Partners has made every effort to work with our partners in good faith and uphold our agreements along the way.”

The spokesperson goes on to say electronic signage testing is underway right now, and they are still working toward a Fall 2019 opening for the complete project.