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Cabarrus opposes state plans for I-85
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Published: June 19, 2009
Cabarrus County commissioners approved a resolution this week opposing a plan to divert funding for the Interstate 85 widening project to the completion of Interstate 485.
N.C. Transportation Secretary Eugene Conti made the suggestion to the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization in May. Conti attended MUMPO's May 20 meeting to discuss the accelerated schedule for completing I-485 announced by Gov. Beverly Perdue in February. The last leg of I-485 will connect Interstate 77 with I-85 near Concord Mills. It is expected to cost $125 million, but is currently not funded.
"They were trying to do that planning in a vacuum without asking us," said Cabarrus commissioner Bob Carruth.
MUMPO leaders expected Conti to explain how the state would pay for the project. Instead, he told MUMPO that the state has no new money for the project and must take funding from one of three other projects — the $198 million I-85 widening between Concord Mills Boulevard and N.C. 73; the Independence Boulevard widening from Albemarle to Idlewild roads; and the Monroe Connector/Bypass.
MUMPO members were as perplexed by the suggestion to raid the I-85 widening fund as Cabarrus County leaders were worried, said MUMPO Secretary Robert Cook.
"Why would you suggest a project not within our planning area?" Cook said.
Cabarrus County is not represented by MUMPO. It is part of the Cabarrus-Rowan Metropolitan Planning Organization and the I-85 widening is in its planning area.
Cook said Cabarrus County is in the same funding region as Mecklenburg and Union counties, so that may partly explain the suggestion.
"But from a process standpoint, it is nearly impossible," Cook said, adding that MUMPO would have to convince Cabarrus-Rowan to give up one of it's biggest future projects.
Cook said Cabarrus leaders have nothing to worry about, though. MUMPO will rank the other two projects, which it does oversee, and will not make any suggestions about I-85.
"The governor has made a promise to find the money for 485, so it's going to be interesting to see where that comes from," Commissioner Coy Privette said.
"I hope it's not from the lottery funds," Commissioner Chairman Jay White said.
The plan to widen I-85 from Speedway Boulevard to N.C. 73, which is already funded, is expected to go to bid in 2011. The project would relieve the bottleneck near Concord Mills, where the number of lanes drops from six to four despite a daily traffic count of more than 110,000.
During the evening rush hour, traffic on I-85 northbound can back up to Interstate 77 in Charlotte.
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