The eight North Carolina counties along Interstate 95 are working on a position paper and are expected to oppose the proposed tolling of the highway.

Halifax County Economic Development Director Cathy Scott told commissioners today she met with representatives in the counties to discuss taking a position on the matter.

She told rrspin.com after the meeting the group, made up of economic development, tourism and chamber officials, is expected to oppose the proposal. “They don’t single out any other highway but Interstate 95. It’s our lifeblood. They’re proposing this without looking at other interstates.”

Scott told the board she thought the representatives from the eight counties — Northampton, Halifax, Nash, Wilson, Johnston, Harnett, Cumberland and Robeson — had a good meeting. “We wanted to make sure we have sticking points in the letter. No other roads are being looked at.”

Scott said there are some proposals in the western part of the state to toll some local roads.

Meanwhile, Scott said on August 16 an Interstate 95 Corridor workshop will be held at Halifax Community College for citizens in Halifax and Northampton counties. That meeting will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

North Carolina has not reached a decision on whether it will toll Interstate 95 but is studying how to fund badly needed improvements, state Department of Transportation officials told the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce in June.

To make those improvements to the state’s 182 miles of interstate will take $5 billion. The only thing that is clear is tolling at the borders is not a great idea and if North Carolina does get permission it would likely be automated toll equipment spaced 20 miles apart that could generate $260 million to $270 million a year.

If federal authorities agreed to allow North Carolina to toll, there is the potential it could happen in 2012-2013 but would probably be more like 2014-2016.

North Carolina last year began a two-year study to evaluate the needs of the 182-mile corridor from Virginia to South Carolina, define and prioritize necessary improvements, and identify ways to fund those improvements. Tolling is among the options under consideration. The study considers tolling at both borders and points between, and will consider through-state traffic, as well as local-only usage.

For more information about the North Carolina I-95 study, visit www.driving95.com.