North Carolina’s Department of Transportation wants to hear from

the public about the benefits of widening and improving Interstate

95, and the possible cost from charging tolls to travel the

highway.

LUMBERTON, N.C. – North Carolina’s Department of Transportation wants to hear from the public about the benefits of widening and improving Interstate 95, and the possible cost from charging tolls to travel the highway.

The first meeting in communities along the I-95 corridor is scheduled for Tuesday at Robeson Community College in Lumberton.

Others are scheduled later this month in Dunn and Fayetteville.

The state DOT recommends work along the entire 180 miles of I-95 from Virginia to South Carolina that would cost nearly $4.5 billion.

The proposals include widening parts of the interstate to six and eight lanes, raising and rebuilding bridges and making repairs to pavement.

Current funding only covers about 10 percent of that cost, so the DOT wants to charge tolls to motorists to make up the difference.

• Associated Press