A delegation of Gaston and Mecklenburg residents fighting the proposed Garden Parkway toll road traveled to Raleigh on Wednesday, telling state lawmakers the $1billion project is a waste.

Most legislators listened with genuine interest, but group members said Rep. William Current Sr., R-Gaston County, was apparently upset with the lobbying.

"He was belligerent, insulting and hateful," said Warren Ellington, 55, of Belmont. "He wasn't interested in any facts or statistical information. It was absolutely shocking."

Judy Joye, 69, of Belmont described Current's behavior as "arrogant."

"He treated us like we didn't have any sense," she said. "He talked to me like I was a complete numbskull."

Current, a long-time supporter of the toll road, said he'd been in a hurry to get to a meeting and "they bombarded me with all these facts I wasn't interested in hearing."

"If I came across as condescending, I apologize," he said.

The group of about a dozen people, led by Belmont City Council member Bill Toole, held an 11:30 a.m. news conference at the Legislative Building.

A contract to build the controversial Garden Parkway would be awarded later this year. The N.C. Turnpike Authority is waiting on final approval from the Federal Highway Administration before construction begins.

Meanwhile, opponents are focusing on stopping state money and redirecting the dollars already set aside for the road.

On Wednesday, they met with Rep. John Torbett and Sen. Kathy Harrington, both Gaston County Republicans. Harrington was elected to the District 43 seat once held by Democrat David Hoyle, a parkway champion who also owns property along the proposed route. Hoyle has said his holdings had nothing to do with his support of the road.

A long-time opponent of the parkway, Harrington said the meeting with the citizens group went well and "I appreciate them sharing their views."

Along with James Forrester, R-Gaston, Harrington co-chairs the appropriations subcommittee for transportation.

"We're looking at ways to make ends meet," she said. "Nothing is targeted, nothing is excepted. Everything is on the table."

The turnpike authority plans to build and finish the road by 2015. The 22-mile parkway would begin west of Gastonia, at Interstate 85 at Bessemer City. The route drops south for roughly five miles before turning east toward Charlotte. Plans then call for it to cut through south Gaston County and cross the Catawba River where it would end just south of Charlotte/Douglas International Airport at the outerbelt.

Supporters say the road would relieve congestion from I-85. N.C. taxpayers will pay for about half the cost, and tolls would pay the rest.

According to an e-mail obtained by the Observer earlier this month, an economic impact study from the turnpike authority stated the road could cost parts of Gaston and Mecklenburg about 900 jobs by 2035. The impact on congestion would be minimal, with I-85 expected to have slightly more traffic if the parkway goes through.

Toole said the lobbying effort was "very successful" and was the first in a series of trips to the General Assembly at a crucial time.

"This is like the last quarter of the Super Bowl where the underdog is within a touchdown," Toole said. "We've got the ball and just enough time to win. But I wouldn't care to predict who's going to win this game."