Charlotte Observer - Charlotte, NC
APR 11, 1014

The creation of toll lanes on Interstate 77 north of Charlotte took a big step closer to reality after the N.C. Department of Transportation announced Friday it has picked a bidder to build the 26-mile road expansion.

Pending a final review, DOT officials said, Cintra Infraestructures S.A. will begin work on the toll lanes as early as December.

“This is a major step,” DOT spokeswoman Jen Thompson said Friday. “It makes it closer to being finalized.”

The project will be a public-private partnership, a new type of road funding in North Carolina. State officials say North Carolina will contribute $88 million toward the $655 million project, with Cintra paying the rest. In return, Cintra will receive toll revenues for 50 years.

Read more

To download a PDF of this article, click HERE.