Published: May 7, 2013

The Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. — Three contentious turnpike projects are no longer included in Gov. Pat McCrory’s transportation overhaul.

The House Appropriations Committee adopted a new version of the bill Tuesday that removed the Cape Fear Skyway, the Garden Parkway and the Mid-Currituck Bridge from the plan. The projects had been added by a previous committee over the objections of lawmakers who said their inclusion would doom the bill in the Senate and defeat the purpose of taking politics out of transportation decisions.

Bill sponsor Bill Brawley of Matthews said members later opposed the addition after finding the language gave preferential treatment to the Mid-Currituck Bridge.

An amendment passed Tuesday shifts about $1.5 billion in additional funding over 10 years to individual transportation divisions from regional projects to help get the support of rural lawmakers.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/05/07/2876921/turnpike-projects-removed-from.html#storylink=cpy