NCDOT Opens East And Westbound Sides Of NC 42 Bridge

Traffic is flowing over the eastbound and westbound sides of the new bridge on Highway 42 East of Clayton on June 8, 2021. Photo by John Payne

CLAYTON – The NC Department of Transportation has opened both the east and westbound sides of the new Highway 42 East Bridge over the Neuse River. Overnight Monday, crews completed a traffic shift and began work on building out a raised median.

Its all part of a $58.7 million contract awarded in October 2018 to widen 4.6 miles of Highway 42 east of Clayton between Glen Laurel Road and Buffalo Road. New traffic signals will also be installed at some locations.

The project includes the new Neuse River Bridge with turn lanes and an upgraded traffic sign.

The four lane stretch of Highway 42 East should be completed by the fall of 2022.