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I-77 toll lane construction debris leads to costly repairs

By Mark Barber
By Mark Barber

The toll lane construction along I-77 is also taking a toll on the vehicles that have to drive through the construction zone.

Channel 9 reported earlier in March that there were 400 extra crashes in the I-77 toll zone in the year since construction started. But Channel 9 reporter Mark Barber also discovered that there’s also been an increase in car repairs.

[RELATED: Spike in crashes in I-77 toll construction zone, according to NCDOT]

Mom-and-pop repair shops about a mile from I-77 in Huntersville said they have seen the number of their customers double, if not triple, just in the past six months. They said the biggest issues are damage to the undercarriage of cars and busted tires.

“They’re getting nails and spikes and pieces of metal in there,” said car repair shop owner Jim Neitzke.

Neitzke thinks road debris in the I-77 toll construction zone is running more and more of the vehicles off the interstate and into his shop.

One driver told Channel 9 he ran a flat tire after a large bolt punctured his tire.

Billie Kiser’s windshield was shattered with her 2-year-old daughter in the back seat.

“There was a car that was coming on, and it ended up throwing a rock onto my windshield,” Kiser said. “I was lucky that day, but you know, every time I get on 77 I don’t know how it’s going to be.”

Residents are trying to collect information about safety issues. They set up a survey that has received more than 1,000 responses. One of the questions: Do you think North Carolina Department of Transportation does a good job maintaining the safety of the interstate?

NCDOT officials said their crews pick up debris every other week, and when they hear about issues they make another sweep. They said just like any other active work zone, road debris is a possibility.

“My wish is that they, you know, take consideration the safety of us driving down the interstate, clean up the sides of the roads to avoid larger accidents and something tragic happening,” Kiser said.

Drivers plan to take their safety concerns and the results of the new survey to law enforcement, first responders and elected officials during a meeting at Cornelius town hall in two weeks.

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