On Thursday, the NC Department of Transportation unveiled its draft 10-year transportation plan at the monthly Board of Transportation meeting in Raleigh.
The plan, called the Draft 2020-2029 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), includes 18 new highway projects in Division 4. The division covers Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnston, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties.
In Johnston County, the newest major project added to the multi-year plan includes an upgrade to Highway 210 from Highway 50 at McGee’s Crossroads to Raleigh Road to superstreet standards. Construction is set to begin in 2028. The superstreet designation would have the greatest impact to business driveways and side streets. In most cases drivers on side streets will have to make a right turn to enter Highway 210 and not be allowed to cross the median unless at a traffic signal.
Another major project added is the widening Cleveland Road to multi-lanes between Highway 42 and Barber Mill Road beginning in 2029.
Other major projects still remain on the 10-Year TIP list including:
- Continued funding for 11 miles of pavement rehabilitation awarded in 2018 on Interstate 40 from Morgan Road near Benson to the Sampson County line. A separate contract was awarded last year to resurface 16.3 miles of I-40 from Cleveland Road to Morgan Road.
- Widening I-40 from I-440 / US64 in Wake County to NC 42 (Exit 312) in Johnston County and add 2 lanes in each direction is still on schedule for 2019 and 2020. The project also include an upgraded interchange at I-40 and NC42.
- Upgrade the interchange on US 70 Business at I-95 in Smithfield including bridge work
- Widen I-95 to 8 lanes from Exit 56 in Cumberland County to Exit 81 (I-40 interchange) in Johnston County
- Upgrade guardrails and median drainage on I-95 from the Harnett County line to the Pine-Level Selma Road (Exit 98) in Selma
- Resurface 12.5 miles of I-95 starting near the 84 mile marker south of Four Oaks to the US 70 Bypass (Exit 97) in Selma
- Resurface 6.1 miles of I-95 from the Harnett County line to the 84 mile marker north of Benson
- Construct a new interchange at I-95 and US701 in Four Oaks
- Resurface US 70 (Future I-42) from Buffalo Road to the Wayne County line
- Construct the US 70 Princeton Bypass to just east of Pondfield Road and upgrade to freeway standards
The NC 42 East widening project at Fox Ridge Road near Clayton. 2018 File Photo by John Payne - Widen to multi-lanes Highway 42 from US 70 in Clayton to Buffalo Road (previously funded)
- Widen to multi-lanes Highway 42 from US 70 in Clayton to Highway 50
- Install turn lanes on Highway 210 at Black Creek Road near Smithfield
- Widen Highway 242 from Tarheel Road to I-40
- Widen Buffalo Road to 3 lanes from US 70 to Old Beulah Road in Selma
- Various road improvements to Gordon Road near the new Novo Nordisk facility
- Widen Swift Creek Road from Airport Industrial Drive to just north of the Johnston County Airport near Smithfield
- Upgrade US 70 from NC 42 in Clayton to the Greenfield Parkway in Garner to superstreet standards
- Widen Highway 42 from Buffalo Road eastward to the Wilson County line
- Construct Cleveland Road on a new location for 0.8 miles to NC 42
- New Clayton signalization system
Bridge replacement projects in the 10-Year Plan include new bridges on:
I-95 over Black Creek
US 301 over CSX Railroad
Pittman Road over I-95
Beulahtown Road over Little Buffalo Creek
Barber Mill Road over Swift Creek
Mill Creek Road over Juniper Swamp
Zack’s Mills Road over Polecat Branch
Richardson Bridge Road over Mill Creek
The department’s 10-year plan is updated every two years. The Board of Transportation is expected to consider final approval of the plan this summer.
“It’s wonderful to see these new projects coming to our growing region,” said Gus Tulloss, a Rocky Mount member of the state Board of Transportation who represents the division. “They are needed, and they will improve congestion and promote economic development.”
The complete list includes 1,266 highway projects; 86 aviation; 235 bicycle and pedestrian; six ferry; 23 public transit; and 47 rail projects selected on statewide, regional and division levels. The projects were prioritized based on technical data as well as input from local officials and residents.
The draft plan includes about 500 changes in major highway projects from the current STIP. Half of the changes include new road projects. Also, there were about 200 projects where a schedule was changed for planning or budgeting needs, and 10 projects whose schedules were accelerated.
Another 24 projects on the current STIP didn’t score high enough this time to remain in the new draft plan. Projects that did not score high enough in the evaluation process to be funded at the statewide level rolled over to the regional level for consideration. Projects that were not funded at the regional level could still be considered at the division level.
The DOT will host an in-house week-long public comment opportunity in February or March during normal business hours. It will be a chance for people to review maps and handouts about projects, ask questions of local staff and submit comments. There will also be an opportunity for residents to submit comments online, with those details to be announced later.
