September 20, 2018
CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX 46 WJZY) -
I-77 Mobility Partners has been slapped with a $3.2 million fine by NCDOT following a dump truck wreck that occurred in the I-77 construction zone, shutting down the interstate for most of the day.
The crash happened on I-77 northbound at mile marker 12 on August 29, 2018.
A dump truck working on the interstate struck the falsework for the future cap of Bridge 110W around 11 a.m. that morning. The operator had just dumped his load near LaSalle Street and drove north on I-77 with his bed raised until he struck the falsework.
The wreck forced all northbound lanes to be closed until the area was safe to pass traffic under the damaged structure. That closure remained in place until about 6:50 p.m. that day.
According to NCDOT, August's closure is in violation of permitted road closure times as described in Section 22.1 of the Contract Technical Provisions, which restricts interstate road closures to between the hours of 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Sunday.
"As a result of this violation and in accordance with Section 17.4.3. of the Comprehensive Agreement, NCDOT will withhold $3.2 million in liquidated damages on the next partial pay estimate or subsequent payments until the amount can be fully withheld," NCDOT said in a written statement.