NCDOT vows to make changes after drivers complain I-77 is unsafe

CORNELIUS, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is promising to make changes after 15 raised pavement markers were discovered on Interstate 77, posing the risk for severe damage to vehicles.

Dozens of people attended the Cornelius Town Hall Wednesday evening for the I-77 Safety Summit.

A survey by Michelle Ferlauto, the organizer of the summit, was taken by more than 1,000 people and found 88 percent of drivers feel unsafe on I-77.

At the meeting, toll opponents revealed Charlotte HERO Roadside Assistance discovered 15 pavement markers on I-77 near exit 30 in Davidson.

NCDOT officials said the department was not aware of the loose markers and that toll construction is to blame. The toll lane construction has been surrounded with controversy since it began in 2015.

NCDOT engineers said that despite the controversy, the construction meets their standards of quality.

"The rate of crashes we are experiencing on I-77 is commensurate with the other interstate work zones we have," Scott Cole said.

Cornelius first responders said accidents have increased 35 percent since toll construction began.

Ferlauto said NCDOT should have higher standards.

"If that is their standard of what they feel is good construction, that is exactly why residents don't want to get on the interstate," Ferlauto said.

The meeting was moderated by former Rep. Tricia Cotham. Other political leaders in attendance included Sen. Jeff Tarte and Rep. Chaz Beasley.

Tarte made a formal request to NCDOT to require trucks to be in the right lane during I-77 construction. He also requested NCDOT to take out vehicle insurance to reimburse citizens for damage to their vehicles from accidents related to traveling in the construction zone.

NCDOT officials said they will be patrolling the interstate over the coming days to look for loose pavement markers.

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