Starting next week, crews will begin a new section of a project designed to improve traffic along U.S. 70 in Johnston County between Selma and Princeton.
Late Sunday night, Dec. 13, the N.C. Department of Transportation will begin closing Stevens Chapel Road/Davis Mill Road at the intersection with U.S. 70, east of Smithfield. The road will close by the morning of Monday, Dec. 14. U.S. 70 will remain open to traffic.
This closure will allow crews with Flatiron Constructors Inc. of Broomfield, Colorado to begin work on converting this intersection into an interchange by building a bridge that will carry Stevens Chapel Road/Davis Mill Road over U.S. 70 with ramps providing access for traffic in all directions between the two roads.
During the closure, traffic will follow a detour using Peedin Road/Creech’s Mill Road to access both sides of U.S. 70. Also, the median crossover on U.S. 70 at this location will be closed. Drivers on U.S. 70 wanting to turn left on either Stevens Chapel Road or Davis Mill Road, depending on their direction, will have to continue to the next median crossover, make a U-turn on U.S. 70 and then turn right on either road.
An average of more than 29,000 vehicles use U.S. 70 through this area daily. This is expected to increase to 45,000 by 2035. Currently traffic on Stevens Chapel Road/Davis Mill Road crossing U.S. 70 has to stop and wait for traffic to clear before crossing. By converting this to an interchange, traffic on Stevens Chapel Road/Davis Mill Road will be separated from traffic on U.S. 70, reducing the risk of crossover accidents.
In addition to constructing an interchange at this location, the $16.7-million project also includes constructing a similar interchange to the west at the intersection of U.S. 70 Business/Peedin Road Ext. at U.S. 70. This work began in July when U.S. 70 Business/Peedin Road Ext. was closed at U.S. 70. More details can be found here.
By closing the road to traffic at these locations, NCDOT is able to expedite the overall construction time of these interchanges by six months to a year. All work is expected to be complete by July 2017. A map of these locations can be found here.
To help eliminate the possibility of crossover accidents at other locations in this area, crews will also remove the existing median crossovers on U.S. 70 at Firetower Road, Peedin Road/Creech’s Mill Road and Pine Street. Traffic on these routes will be able to turn right onto U.S. 70; however, they will have to turn right, proceed to the next break in the median and make a U-turn in order to turn left onto U.S. 70.
Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling in the area and to expect delays. NCDOT reminds motorists to watch signs for construction information, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit.
