State representative plans to introduce bill to cancel I-77 toll project

RALEIGH, N.C. — A state representative from Huntersville told Channel 9 that he plans to introduce a bill to cancel the Interstate 77 toll project.

Rep. Charles Jeter said he will file a bill when the Legislature opens Monday. He sent Channel 9 a copy Wednesday.

The bill will be introduced during the short session. It would cancel the contract the state has with a subsidiary of the Spanish company Cintra, that currently has a sister project in Texas facing bankruptcy.

The bill would also provide the North Carolina Department of Transportation with $25,000 for legal fees to fight the company on any fees to cancel the contract.

NCDOT has said that the fees could reach up to $300 million.

Construction continues along I-77 with trees being torn down in the Lake Norman area to make way for the lanes.

It's unclear how much support the bill would have.

Sen. Jeff Tarte has made a similar attempt to stop the lanes with another bill last year, but it failed to get out of committee.

Stay tuned to Eyewitness News and wsoctv.com for updates.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• SC firefighters face venomous snakes while battling blaze
• Target makes stand on transgender bathroom issue
• Appeals ruling threatens key provision of NC transgender law
• Driver was racing another car before deadly crash, witnesses say
• Man killed after crashing into car pulling out of driveway

Cox Media Group