Construction to continue on I-77 toll lanes; protesters not giving up

RALEIGH, N.C. — Despite thousands of emails and phone calls to North Carolina senators, the construction will continue on the Interstate 77 toll lane project. But toll protesters say they aren't giving up.

Every day, thousands of people drive by construction vehicles and they will continue to do so for the time being.

Despite passing with overwhelming bipartisan support in the North Carolina House, the bill that would cancel the I-77 toll lane contract will not receive a vote in the Senate.

"I think people are angry in a way the region has never seen before," Kurt Naas of Widen I-77 said. "They realize we are facing 50 years of being placed in a tolling straight jacket."

Kurt Naas has been leading the fight against the project for years. Toll protesters say they are concerned this project is bad for the economy, won't solve the congestion problem and will make it difficult for the state to widen the highway in the future.

"We don't have a reason why it isn't being canceled," he said. "We don't have anything but DOT fearmongering which we can easily refute, something just doesn't add up."

NCDOT told lawmakers it would cost $800 million for the contract to be canceled and for the state to run the project. Channel 9 has also learned NCDOT officials told Senate Republicans 73 projects would be impacted if the contract is canceled.

Toll opponents say the focus now is at the ballot box by targeting local representatives who voted against the bill and Gov. Pat McCrory.

Hoping a shakeup in the Governor's Mansion and General Assembly could bring the project to a stop.

Sen. Jeff Tarte says he isn't giving up either. He is going to reintroduce legislation in the long session asking for the toll contract to be canceled.

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