U.S. 117: Improvements will be in line with interstate quality road

The word that improvements along U.S. highway 117 South between the Wayne County Fairgrounds and Mount Olive comes as great news to local residents, especially those interested in seeing economic development boosted in the area.

The proposed improvements would create interchanges at Country Club Road and O'Berry Road. The interchanges would allow traffic to continue to flow freely along the four-lane highway and to help raise its classification level to that of a major interstate -- something Wayne area planners have envisioned for years.

The goal is to make the highway interstate quality all the way to its intersection with Interstate 40 in Duplin County. That would be part of the plan to connect the port at Wilmington with other key locations in eastern North Carolina.

It will take years for the actual work to be accomplished. But just getting the project on the board is a tremendous breakthrough, one that should be applauded by all Wayne County residents. It not only will make travel easier, it will make the area a more attractive destination. Years of hard work by local boosters have led to the designation. They are to be congratulated on their success.

Published in Editorials on August 27, 2016 8:41 PM