CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Will the North Carolina Department of Transportation grant builders of the I-77 toll lanes an extension? And will the company have to pay the $10,000 a day fine if they don't meet the November 1 deadline?

That's what we asked Gov. Roy Cooper while he was in Charlotte Tuesday. Last week Cintra, the private, Spanish firm building the lanes requested an extension. It's still not clear from the company why they need it, but frustrated commuters and even state legislators have demanded NCDOT hold Cintra accountable if the entire 26-mile corridor from Mooresville to Uptown Charlotte isn't fully open by the beginning of next month.

The governor says they are still working on remedies to the traffic backups, such as using the shoulders, while they are also working to transfer ownership of the lanes to the state.

“All of those efforts are in the works, and are a part of negotiations with Cintra right now. So, this is just another issue to add to the mix, but they're weighing those options right now,” Gov. Cooper said.

Additionally, if you're on I-77, be ready for detours between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. in on southbound I-77 between the I-85/I-77 interchange and the Brookshire Freeway/I-77 interchange.