widen I-77
Questions around the toll lanes?
What portion of the project will be finished in January? Most of the new lanes in the Cornelius/Huntersville area will be completed and open by January but in areas closer to Charlotte, work remains. Detectors have been installed above the toll lanes to read license information on cars using the toll lanes. This information is […]
Much-heralded I-77 ‘solution’ could take years
Aug. 15. By Dave Vieser and Dave Yochum. One defeated governor, a Facebook page with 10,000 followers and three vivid community protests later, the NCDOT now says it will see to it that Lake Norman eventually gets one new general purpose lane and one new toll lane on I-77. However, the cost to tear up […]
Exit 28 aesthetic re-do is going to be a won’t do
July 6. By Dave Vieser. In late 2015, then Mayor Chuck Travis announced that Gov. Pat McCrory would be coming to Cornelius in 2016 to dedicate the new nautically themed Exit 28 bridge. McCrory bailed out as soon as the reviews were in: The bridge was a sinking ship when it comes to public art. Now […]
Solution to I-77 still stuck in legislation congestion
June 20. By Dave Vieser. When NC Rep. John Bradford went on Facebook to say he had some “incredible good news” about the hated I-77 toll lanes, everyone paid attention. The news was that the House of Representatives was working on legislation to create a source to fund a modification of the CINTRA toll lane contract. Incredible it […]
A bridge too ugly? Town says no lipstick
By Dave Vieser. In 2015, then-Cornelius Mayor Chuck Travis announced that Gov. Pat McCrory would dedicate the new nautical-themed bridge at Exit 28. McCrory never made that trip, and the town’s investment in public art seems like a shipwreck. Million-dollar plans for additional decorations have finally been scrapped. Resident Rick Monroe, speaking at a Town […]
Will 1 GP lane, 1 toll lane fix a ‘pig’ of a project?
May 10. By Dave Vieser. In a meeting which consumed barely more than one hour, the members of the I77 Local Advisory Group voiced nearly universal agreement to complete the current construction, then to modify the I-77 expansion in Mecklenburg County from two toll lanes to one general purpose lane and one toll lane. The […]
Is a single general purpose lane on I-77 between Exit 23 and Exit 28 going to help?
March 16. By Dave Vieser. Members of the I77 Advisory Group took a hard look at several toll lane options, including the possibility of converting one of the toll lanes between Exit 23 and Exit 28 into a general purpose lane. The idea, which comes out of the Mercator consultant report, did not go over big with […]
Alphabet soup of agencies would review new I-77 plan
Feb. 15. By Dave Yochum. ANALYSIS. The second meeting of the I-77 Advisory Group got under way yesterday with former Chamber Chair Mike Russell announcing that there were emergency exits on either side of a packed meeting room. “Just don’t take 77,” Chamber CEO Bill Russell interjected. It was a touch of dark humor […]
Next meetings of toll group will be open to media, public
Feb. 7. By Dave Vieser. UPDATED. The sun will shine at the Feb. 14 and Feb. 22 meetings of the I-77 Advisory Group at the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce. “The next meeting will be livestreamed,” said DOT spokeswoman Carly Olexik. “There will be some space for members of the public and media to attend as […]
Will the next meeting be open to the public?
Jan. 30. By Dave Vieser. While there’s still no word on where or when the next meeting of the I-77 Advisory Group will be held, local leaders are saying it needs to be open to the public. The advisory committee, which represents what may well be the last chance to fix the toll lane project, met […]
