Chapel Hill Station Breaks $3-a-Gallon Barrier

The Cedar Village Exxon station on Weaver Dairy Road had $3.09 on its sign. The AAA said that put the station 30 cents above the Triangle average for unleaded regular.

"I think it's expensive. It's too much. It's outrageous, that's what it is," driver Neville Ward said.

"I'd walk or catch the bus because that's cheap," driver Yolanda Ware said. "I'd do that before I pay $3.09 a gallon. That's too much."

No one at the station wanted to discuss what had driven the price so high.

Tom Crosby of the AAA said drivers who patronize stations with surprisingly high prices encourage price hikes.

The Exxon station, which includes a convenience store, is near residential neighborhoods and East Chapel Hill High School. There are no other fuel dealers in that area of Chapel Hill.

A few miles away on N.C. Highway 54 in Chapel Hill, gas was selling for $2.79 a gallon. Other prices across the metro area ranged from $2.71 to $2.84 a gallon.

"I have stock in Exxon Mobil, but I still won't buy gas here (because) $3.09 is too expensive," driver Carol Troutner said.