First responders explored the twists and turns of the new Monroe Expressway Thursday to help improve response time when the toll lanes open later this month.
The 18-mile shortcut through Union County opens Nov. 27.
"In an emergency or first response situation, timing is critical, so it's very important for first responders to know where things are," said Dennis Jernigan, with the North Carolina Turnpike Authority. Crews already know the routes on U.S. Highway 74, which is the main artery through Union County. The new tolls are still unfamiliar and open up new space for new problems, so drivers were glad to see the training.