NEW BERN– Yet another segment of an important corridor in eastern North Carolina will be upgraded to interstate standards, thanks to a $242 million state contract awarded last week.
The N.C. Department of Transportation will improve 6.4 miles of U.S. 70 roughly between Thurman Road and the Havelock Bypass. As local motorists well know, this popular corridor serves several military installations, the Port of Morehead City, and busy beach communities.
The mega-million upgrade will eliminate what are called conventional U.S. 70 intersections (like stop signs and traffic signals). In their place are coming a mixture of new overpasses, bridges, ramps, loops and service roads. Along this 6.4-mile route, the following three intersections with U.S. 70 will be converted into interchanges, or highway exits:
- Stately Pine Road
- Fisher Avenue
- Camp Kiro Road
Currently, a Department of Transportation contractor is upgrading 5.1 miles of U.S. 70 to interstate standards in the James City area of New Bern. A different Department of Trqnsportation contractor is constructing the Havelock Bypass that will become Interstate 42 around Havelock.
SO LONG, JAMES CITY! WE HARDLY KNEW YE.