U.S. 70 West reduces to one lane
By From staff reports
Published in News on September 9, 2015 1:46 PM
Beginning today, weather permitting, the state Department of Transportation will reduce a section of U.S. 70 West of Goldsboro to one lane at the tie-in for the western section of the new U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass, located just west of N.C. 581.
The lane reduction will allow crews to repave U.S. 70 West, as well as the new bridge ramp U.S. 70 West traffic is currently using in this location.
The work is part of the construction of the western section of the U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass.
One lane of U.S. 70 West will be open to traffic at all times while the other westbound lanes are being paved. The paving in this area is expected to be complete by Saturday, Sept. 12, weather permitting.
Once this paving is complete, westbound traffic on U.S. 70 through this area will remain in this one-lane pattern permanently.
Also available following the final paving will be an alternate route to help westbound drivers avoid any congestion on U.S. 70, west of N.C. 581.
The alternate route will allow traffic on U.S. 70 West to take N.C. 581 north to the new interchange for the bypass, and then take the new westbound lanes of the bypass back to U.S. 70 West.
Only this small westbound section of the future bypass will be open for the alternate route and will remain in place until the eastern section of the Goldsboro Bypass opens next summer.
A $62.4 million contract was awarded to S.T. Wooten in July 2012 for the construction of the 5.9-mile-long western section of the U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass.
This section of four-lane divided highway stretches from U.S. 70 west of Goldsboro to Interstate 795. Interchanges have been constructed at U.S. 70 and N.C. 581.
The middle section of the bypass opened in December of 2011. It stretches between Interstate 795 and Wayne Memorial Drive.
Work is currently wrapping up on the western section of the bypass. Signs are being put in place and pavement markings will be laid in the coming weeks.
The western section of the bypass is currently ahead of schedule and expected to open to traffic this fall. Once opened, it will be designated as N.C. 44 just as the middle section is designated.
The U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass is a three-part project estimated to cost a total of $246 million.
Once complete, the 20-mile bypass will span from U.S. 70 just west of N.C. 581 in Wayne County to U.S. 70 just east of Promise Land Road in Lenoir County. For more information, visit the project website.
Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling in the area and to expect delays.
Motorists are reminded to watch signs for construction information, stay alert to changing traffic patterns, and obey the posted speed limit.
For real-time travel information, call 511, visit the Traveler Services section of NCDOT.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.