Bypass: New highway has not hurt local sales tax revenue

With the completion of the new U.S. 70 bypass north of Goldsboro there came some fears that the local economy might suffer as a result of traffic going around the city.

Those fears were allayed somewhat last week when Wayne County commissioners were told that sales tax revenues have been up since the highway's opening.

The creation of good roads almost always brings about an uptick in the economy. Roads are the arteries of commerce in our society, and wherever there are good roads good things happen. Wayne County is just now seeing the effect the new four-lane is having, and the prospects are bright.

Development follows highways, and the county can expect to see much growth stemming from the new road, especially at its interchanges with existing roads running north and south. It is only a matter of time before businesses take advantage of the new thoroughfares.

For that we can thank the political leaders who decades ago envisioned a bypass that would do away with the many bottlenecks in traffic through the county. Their vision is now our reality and our future.

Published in Editorials on February 28, 2017 9:31 AM