Cornelius business owner vows civil disobedience to fight I-77 toll lanes

The owner of a Cornelius pizzeria is vowing to park his car in front of construction vehicles if that’s what it will take to stop the Interstate 77 toll lane project.

“I would like to propose a ‘scofflaw’ effort (if legal efforts fail) to physically stop this effort,” Joel Pfyffer, owner of Prosciutto’s Pizzeria & Pub in Shops on the Green, said on Facebook this week. “I will park my car in front of construction vehicles and I will lead this effort if anyone will follow me.

“This country was founded on Democracy not forced dictation (Federal?) and I am ready to fight back,” Pfyffer said.

The planned toll lanes from Charlotte to Mooresville have been controversial for years. But opposition grew all the more after it was reported that the N.C. Department of Transportation’s contract with a private developer includes a noncompete clause that would make it difficult to build new lanes on I-77 for 50 years.

“I can’t understand how we are being forced into this project,” Pfyffer said. “95% of the citizens are against this, and the state government (including the current Gov who I voted for) are ignoring this populace. I have decided to volunteer my efforts in all ways possible to stop this ill-planned project.”

This story was originally published September 1, 2015 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Cornelius business owner vows civil disobedience to fight I-77 toll lanes."