CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are more issues on Independence Boulevard. North Carolina Department of Transportation officials say construction now won't be finished until summer 2017. The project was supposed to be finished in October.
The construction started more than three years ago.
Channel 9 first reported back in February the lead contractor, Devere Construction, walked away from the job.
The delay is happening because Devere was already behind when the abandoned the widening project, and it took an additional two months for NCDOT to hire a replacement.
Lane Construction has now taken over the project. According to NCDOT, crews are trying to figure out a way to finish widening Highway 74 sooner. The goal is for Sharon Amity and Idlewild Road interchanges to be complete by the end of 2016.
It's been difficult for employees at Charlotte Glass Tinting to see the end of construction on Independence Boulevard clearly. Now, with a date set, they're frustrated that an end won't come until next summer.
"It's a little irritating that they have taken so long to finish it," manager Scarlett Porter said. "I'm not happy about it and it does affect our business."
NCDOT said no additional cost will come to taxpayers and the department can begin withholding damages in mid-October.
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