New traffic pattern along eastern portion of U.S. 70
By John Joyce
Published in News on August 28, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Morning commuters traveling west on U.S. 70 navigate the new traffic pattern at the east end of what will soon become the end of the Goldsboro Bypass.
Commuters traveling into and out of Wayne County from Lenoir County will have noticed a new traffic pattern along U.S. Highway 70 since last Friday.
N.C. Department of Transportation officials said the shift -- part of the U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass project -- is permanent.
Westbound traffic on U.S. 70 will be shifted from its existing pattern near Promise Land Road to new lanes where the road crosses the bypass, according to a DOT press release. Traffic will then go up a slight hill, over the new bridge that goes over the bypass and then back down to the original alignment of U.S. 70.
"The new intersection is with Washington and Piney Grove roads. Originally we had a flashing yellow light there so traffic on U.S. 70 could continue through the area. Now there is a four-way stop with a fully functional traffic light," N.C. DOT communications officer Jennifer Heiss said.
Motorists crossing 70 used to have to make a right turn onto the highway, travel down to the next break in the median and make a U-turn, Mrs. Heiss said.
"Now they can just cross at the light," she said.
Construction began on the 15.5-mile stretch of the bypass project after DOT awarded a $104.4 million design-build contract to Barnhill Contracting Co. back in 2012. Still to come are interchanges at U.S. 13, at Parkstown Road and at U.S. 70. Construction has also been completed on most of the bridges along this stretch of the bypass, the press release said.
Once completed, the $246 million three-part project will -- via the 20-mile bypass -- connect U.S. 70 just west of N.C. Highway 581 in Wayne County to U.S. 70 east of Promise Land Road in Lenoir County.