By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
Rowan and Davidson county commissioners will meet Friday with transportation officials to voice their opposition to a toll bridge replacing the existing Interstate 85 bridge over the Yadkin River, the chairman of the Rowan board says.
Commissioners Jon Barber, Tina Hall and Jim Sides will attend the session, which will include officials from the N.C. Department of Transportation and legislators.
Arnold Chamberlain, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, has other commitments Friday, but he said the N.C. congressional delegation, including U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, needs to take a stand on the bridge.
And he suggested those challenging incumbents ought to take a stand and talk about earmarks ó the federal dollars that go to projects across the country, often called “pork barrel.”
“People in other areas of the country are getting earmarks,” Chamberlain said.
Chamberlain understands Davidson officials wanted the meeting to restate their opposition to a toll bridge.
“The majority of our board is opposed to a toll bridge” as well, Chamberlain said.
“This is absolutely not a Rowan County or Davidson County problem. This is a DOT problem. This is an interstate highway. The solution lies with people who have a lot more power and a lot more money than Rowan and Davidson counties,” he said.
The meeting, which is open to the public, starts at 2 p.m. Friday in the Davidson County Governmental Center, 913 Greensboro St., Lexington.
Nancy Dunn, the area member of the State Board of Transportation, and Pat Ivey, a N.C. Department of Transportation division engineer, are scheduled to attend.