MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — The independent company reviewing the I-77 toll lane project said the head of the North Carolina Department of Transportation can cancel the project at any time if he thinks it's in the public's interest.
The Mercator Advisors is expected to release a report next month with how much it will potentially cost to cancel or change the contract.
The anti-toll group “Widen I-77” said it is happy with talks so far.
“We are encouraged. It looks like we are talking about options and hopefully we will come up with something that will finally serve the public interest at some point,” said Kurt Naas of Widen I-77.
Other options include turning some of the toll lanes into general purpose lanes or allowing cars with two or more people to use the lanes for free.
Mercator said the state will have to pay for whatever work has already been done, no matter what.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/U3EY7ZFBSVFTXLGH7UFZM2DMVA.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/WTJEM3262VBSZLL6LP3QO6TFLA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XG5EUK5SHJCZRHU75DT4P7WH5U.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/V2LHQ3SVK5DWNA7NL7MLKJ5MQ4.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/3DOUADN2EBD5FDXLHYKNPCC2PA.jpeg)