$16 mil for land need to complete I-485

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

News $16 mil for land need to complete I-485

Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 12:45 PM

See, here's the problem with the state's promises about completing I-485: They haven't even bought the land yet.

When they make these promises (remember, yesterday they said the loop will be done by 2012 but a year ago they said it would take a decade), please keep in mind that they're just promises ... from politicians, no less. They're appeasing -- at first -- and usually only lead to disappointment. So, try not to get your hopes up.

Why? First, the government said they didn't have the money; now they do. Second, there's the huge issue of air quality control that could royally screw the Queen City's road project plans. (If we can't improve our ozone problem, the feds will yank highway funding.) And, third, how many promises have we heard about I-485 over the years that were actually kept? (Seriously, do you know of any? Let us know.)

N.C. Transportation Secretary Gene Conti said Wednesday the state will begin buying land this summer for the last segment of Interstate 485, but there's still no plan and no money to build it.

The Department of Transportation has budgeted $16 million for right of way for the last five miles of the outerbelt in northeast Mecklenburg. But money to build the highway won't be available until 2015, at the earliest.

In February, Gov. Bev Perdue told Charlotte officials that construction on the last piece of I-485 would begin in 2009. But Conti has since said the only way to speed up the highway is to take money from another Charlotte project, such as the conversion of Independence Boulevard to an expressway; widening I-85 in Cabarrus County or the Monroe Connector/Bypass.