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The money will also be used to upgrade two segments of U.S. 70 to interstate standards. The first segment runs from the U.S. 70 Bypass near Selma east to Pondfield Road near Princeton, while the other section runs from a proposed interchange at Thurman Road, south of New Bern, to the planned Havelock Bypass.
Those two projects are part of a larger effort to upgrade U.S. 70 to interstate standards from I-40 to Morehead City. In addition to making the trip to the beach faster, the project will provide interstate access to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and one of two state ports.
The future highway will be known as Interstate 42.
Along with fiber optic cable and cell towers along both roads, NCDOT plans to erect message boards with real-time information on driving conditions.
According to this article, more projects on the I-87 corridor could be added to the STIP due to the recent Build NC Bond Act if the bond funds are made available by the end of the year.
Given that NCDOT recently got a federal grant for US-70, in combination with Build NC, I think it’s a safe bet that we’ll see I-42 work bumped up as well.
NCDOT has awarded a contract to rehab the US-17/Future I-87 bridges over the Dismal Swamp Canal near South Mills in Camden County. Completion set for June 2019.
Biggest thing of note was that a contract was recently awarded to upgrade the existing freeway between Dover and New Bern to interstate standards by repaving and widening the shoulders. Completion date set for November 15, 2019.
Seems like NC has been more proactive with I-42 because they don't have to coordinate with a neighboring state for connections.
That and the fact that US-70 carries more traffic than either US-64/I-87 and US-264/I-587 and has more safety issues. A lot of the work that’s being done now should’ve been done 20+ years ago.
Of all the future interstates east of Raleigh, I-42 is the most important, with I-795’s extension along US-117 from Goldsboro to I-40 being a close second, IMO.
That and the fact that US-70 carries more traffic than either US-64/I-87 and US-264/I-587 and has more safety issues. A lot of the work that’s being done now should’ve been done 20+ years ago.
Of all the future interstates east of Raleigh, I-42 is the most important, with I-795’s extension along US-117 from Goldsboro to I-40 being a close second, IMO.
Good points. I've never driven on 70 east of Smithfield, but I have driven 64 and part of 17 east of Rocky Mount and can attest to the sparseness, as well as the modern-ness of the freeway.
On another note re: extending I-795 to I-40, it seems like NCDOT has a thing for creating Interstate numbering violations wherever possible.
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