Important I-485 Announcement

PROVIDENCE RD. — Charlotte resident Jeff A. Taylor today announced that he intends to complete the final leg of Charlotte’s outerbelt starting tomorrow.

“Queen City taxpayers and motorists have waited too long for this vital roadway to be completed, decades now. That is why this last stretch must kick-off final construction tomorrow,” Taylor declared in a surprise announcement.

Federal stimulus money may or may not help supply the estimated $220m. required to complete the final five-mile leg and build a needed interchange with I-85, he explained. Taylor credited Gov. Bev Perdue with the idea to “blast-track” the oft-delayed project today.

“The governor took the first bold step to ‘fast-track’ this project without any source of funding, we’re just taking it to the next level with this exciting announcement. We couldn’t have done it without her leadership and that of NC DOT, the Mecklenburg delegation, and city and county elected leaders. They’re the real stars today,” Taylor said.

Details on exactly when and how construction will begin are still in formation. Taylor noted that he still has several cracks in his driveway which need to be filled and that cash-flow is constrained by the $61.56 he spent yesterday at Lowe’s for lawn chemicals.

“I hate effing crab grass,” Taylor explained.

Still, one likely source of revenue is the NC Education Lotto. Initial estimates are that millions of dollars may be available directly from the Lotto with the possibility that additional debt could be taken on to leverage all revenue sources. Should the pay-out prove large enough, Taylor said the project might be funded without additional cost to the state or taxpayers.

Taylor concluded by reminding everyone that except for professional and consulting fees “commensurate with the practice and operation of the General Assembly, NC DOT, and any interlocking bodies” he was undertaking the project free of charge.