Residents worried about more flooding in I-77 construction area with hurricane coming

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — The I-77 toll lane construction has flooded three times, forcing drivers to navigate through hazardous conditions.

With much more rain expected from Hurricane Florence, I-77 Mobility Partners, the company building the lanes, said it is working to make sure the interstate doesn’t flood again.

[Blocked drainage causes drainage problem in I-77 toll construction]

NCDOT officials address flooding in I-77 construction zone

At a public hearing Thursday on I-77 toll pricing, Lake Norman residents lashed out at executives with the company building the project.

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“You are stealing the health and safety of individuals who try to navigate this hellish construction zone,” Cornelius resident Rick Monroe said.

The biggest concern for I-77 residents is the highway turning into a swimming pool.

“Cintra's construction methods and safety measures are extremely cavalier and mediocre,” Cornelius resident William Rakatansky said.

Jean Leier was one of the three leaders listening to the outrage.

She said she hears the public's concern and the group is working hard with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to fix the problem ahead of Florence.

“They are not only looking at all the drainage,” Leier said. “They have crews out there that are looking at all the debris free from the concrete barriers.”

Leier said there will be contractors on standby for when the rain moves through from the hurricane.

As was evident by comments from some of the dozens of people in attendance, confidence in the contractor is not too high.

I-77 Mobility Partners said that, once the toll lanes are up and running, they will be able to be made free during states of emergency.

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