CLAYTON – The N.C. Department of Transportation is seeking public input on a plan to redesignate three interconnecting highways in the Clayton area.
The department is holding an open house Oct. 12 in the Cleveland community over these proposed changes:
- 10 miles of U.S. 70 from I-40 to U.S. 70 Business would become Interstate 42;
- 12 miles of U.S. 70 Business from I-40 to U.S. 70 would revert to U.S. 70; and
- 11 miles of N.C. 42 from N.C. 50 to N.C. 42 East would become N.C. 36.
The reason for the changes is the Federal Highway Administration has authorized the department’s plan to redesignate U.S. 70 around Clayton as I-42. The designation to use I-42 was determined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
The NCDOT wishes to avoid the potential confusion that would arise by having I-42 intersect with the current N.C. 42 in Clayton by redesignating the state highway as N.C. 36.
U.S. 70 Business
As part of this change, NCDOT would like also to redesignate U.S. 70 Business in this vicinity as U.S. 70. The reason is the department prefers to avoid, if possible, “route stacking” – that is, having more than one highway route on the same corridor. That way, if there is an emergency closure on I-42, drivers can be directed to take an alternate route on U.S. 70.
Public Meeting
The public meeting will be from 5-7 p.m. Oct. 12 at Oakland Presbyterian Church at 8927 Cleveland Road outside Clayton. At the meeting, maps of the route changes will be displayed and NCDOT engineers available to answer questions about the plan.
Individuals unable to attend the meeting may send questions or comments via email: US70-NC42-Clayton@publicinput.com
People also may go to this NCDOT public input webpage for more information and to see alternatives for how to submit comments.
