A local group of citizens is pressing to halt the development of the I-77 highway P3 project in North Carolina (USA).

The group is against tolling the highway and is requesting government officials to take another look at widening the highway using conventional lanes, not high occupancy tolled lanes (HOT).

The group has announced that it has retained a legal counsel for the purposes of seeking a possible injunction against the project. The name of the law firm has not been disclosed and it is not clear if the law firm's study will lead to a lawsuit.

Ferrovial, through a consortium led by its subsidiary Cintra Infraestructuras, achieved commercial closure with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for the project in June this year. NCDOT announced in April that the consortium had been selected as the apparent best value proposer.

The contract includes the design, build, finance, operate and maintain 26 miles (41.8 kilometres) of the I-77 in North Carolina (USA).

The design includes widening 26 miles (41.8 km) of lane in both directions on the I-77 in the northern part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, between connections with the I-277 in Charlotte and the NC-150 in Iredell County. The project is divided into three sections, and the existing road will be rebuilt, increasing its capacity by creating managed lanes (with variable electronic tolls) that will improve traffic flow.

Investment is estimated at US$655 million. The 50-year concession starts from the date the infrastructure opens to traffic.

Work is scheduled to begin in 2015 and be completed by 2018.

This project aims to enhance traffic conditions in one of the fastest-growing areas and it also aims to strengthen opportunities for economic development and local employment.