Environmentalists challenge toll road ruling

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The Southern Environmental Law Center is challenging a ruling that paves the way for the more than $700 million Monroe Bypass project to move forward.

On Monday, the SELC filed an appeal in federal court after U.S. District Court Judge James Dever III said an environmental-impact study was done properly.

The appeal was filed on behalf of Clean Air Carolina, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and the Yadkin Riverkeeper.

The groups claim the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration violated federal law by ignoring lower-cost solutions to alleviate U.S. 74 congestion and by misleading the public about the true impacts of the toll road on the environment.

Following Dever’s ruling, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority said it will seek approval for a financing plan and issue the remainder of the bonds needed to finance the project and award the construction contract to a joint venture of United
Infrastructure Group, Boggs Paving, Anderson Columbia and Rummel, Klepper & Kahl.