Pitch
for toll
on I-74

Two area legislators and a Brunswick County property owners group are pushing for the proposed Interstate 74 to become one of a handful of highways that could be built and maintained by tolls.

State Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. and Rep. Bonner Stiller (R-Brunswick) appeared before the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee Tuesday with the request. Lawmakers agreed to study the request but stopped short of endorsing I-74 as a toll highway.

A recent state law allows North Carolina to study and build up to nine toll highway projects. A new, larger bridge over the Cape Fear River is one of four projects already included. Competition for the other five spots is increasing, as toll highways are seen as a way to build major projects in a decade, rather than in a generation.

As planned, I-74 would include upgrades along the current route of U.S. 74-76 and a new stretch of four-lane through the Green Swamp from Bolton to Southport.

The Department of Transportation has identified I-74 as a “strategic highway corridor” but has not funded construction in Brunswick and Columbus counties in the official Transportation Improvement Plan. Soles said in a prepared statement that although free roads must continue to be available, making I-74 a toll road would speed construction and provide a faster solution to traffic congestion and growth.

“Brunswick County is one of North Carolina’s fastest-growing communities and it’s critical that steps be taken as soon as possible to accommodate this growth and improve our transportation infrastructure,” Soles said.

Gary Halberstadt, president of the Alliance of Brunswick County Property Owners Associations, also addressed the committee and was joined by fellow Alliance members Phil Olson, Frank Thomas and Mike Loyack. Developer Tripp Sloan, representing the Business Alliance for a Sound Economy, was also part of the delegation.

Halberstadt said earlier meetings with the Turnpike Authority, which will oversee toll highways, had been encouraging.

“Anything we can do to expedite its development should be carefully considered,” said Kip Godwin, chairman of the Columbus County Board of Commissioners.

Brunswick’s population increased more than 15 percent from 2000 to 2004, according to Census figures. During the next three years, planned developments in Brunswick County will put an additional 100,000 cars on the road, mainly along U.S. 17, Soles said.

“Brunswick County is a wonderful place to live … but we need to be sure we have the infrastructure in place to handle this added growth and traffic so we can continue to enjoy a high quality of life,” Halberstadt said.