U.S. 70 Bypass open to traffic
By Steve Herring
Published in News on May 29, 2016 1:45 AM
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News-Argus/ALAN CAMPBELL
Gov. Pat McCrory speaks during the U.S. 70 Bypass ribbon cutting Friday near the Wayne County-Lenoir County line.
The completed U.S. 70 Goldsboro Bypass opened Friday afternoon, sparing motorists many stoplights as well as a confusing exit on the western outskirts of the city that has plagued drivers for years.
The opening comes just days after the announcement that the U.S. 70 corridor between Interstate 40 and Morehead City is now "Future Interstate 42."
It also came on the start of one of the busiest travel weekends of the year as Memorial Day weekend kicks off the unofficial start of summer.
Nearly 100 people, local and state officials including Gov. Pat McCrory, were on hand for the Friday morning ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the eastern and final segment of the 19.6-mile, $234 million bypass that stretches from N.C. 581 west of Goldsboro east to Promise Land Road in Lenoir County.
It was a day that many had not expected to witness in their lifetime. When the work first began the highway had not been expected to be completed for almost another 30 years because of a lack of funding.
However, in October of 2010 the state Transportation Board combined the two eastern segments of the bypass into one project to speed up construction.
A large Interstate-42 sign was set up next to the podium, and state Department of Transportation workers lined an overpass bridge to watch the ceremony held at the Lenoir County line.
"Interstate 42. Interstate 42," McCrory said to a round of applause. "Twenty miles of no stoplights, and that is what it is all about -- 20 miles of no stoplights. I have got to tell you that is going to make a big difference to economic development of this entire area. As we get to and from market places through North Carolina, and even markets in other states, we have got to make sure that we have got a clear path for transportation.
"This clear path for transportation will end up helping Wayne County and Goldsboro and other cities in the long term because we are going to be better able to recruit new manufacturing and other companies to this area. It will also help the agricultural community get your products to and from the market place throughout North Carolina and the rest of the world."
The goal is to get a clear path between Raleigh and Morehead City, McCrory said.
Morehead City is home to a very important port that the state is putting major money into in this year's budget, he said. The state is also redoing the dredging at the port to ensure it becomes a major port for agriculture and other products, he said.
"So we think this 20 miles of no traffic lights will end up helping us recruit new industry to this county and other counties in this entire eastern North Carolina region because connectivity was a major part of our 25-year vision," McCrory said. "One thing that we need to work on though is we do need to connect people on this road, for example to downtown Goldsboro. We want to make sure we have signage to downtown Goldsboro because the job you are doing in downtown Goldsboro is absolutely fascinating.
"We are going to want people to get off the exit here and see the great work the city of Goldsboro is doing. In addition there are a couple of good barbecue places there. One right across the street from the other. We are going to get the people off the road and also come visit and spend money in Wayne County, Goldsboro and in the surrounding counties in this area. So we are going to have to look at signage and advertising as we do along every Interstate highway in North Carolina."
The road is a testament to local leadership, McCrory said.
He turned to face the DOT workers, saying they are the ones who had put in the hard work.
Wayne County Commission Chairman Joe Daughtery called the event a "momentous" occasion and a "big, big deal" for Wayne County and eastern North Carolina.
The dedication and opening mark years of planning and work by many , he said.
However, a lot of people are fearful of change, Daughtery said.
"I own a business on the now-to-be the old highway and bypass U.S. 70," Daughtery said. "A lot of people that are on that highway are very concerned about the traffic and the effects to their businesses. Folks, change is good. It is our future. We need to look at change with a positive attitude. That means that we may, and the businesses along U.S. 70, may have to turn around and advertise more to bring in our customers there.
"But look at the positive effects, and the positive effects are the ease of getting in and out of my driveway and ease of my customers coming to my business. This opening is good. It is good change, and I think that we need to embrace that."
Daughtery praised local leaders Bobby Lewis, former Wayne County Commissioner Jack Best and Goldsboro Mayor Chuck Allen for their years of work in bringing the road to fruition.
"It is a great day for Wayne, but it is an even greater day for eastern North Carolina because the connectivity is hugely important to our livelihood," Allen said.
The connectivity makes the area a better place for business and for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base State Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson said.
The state is contacting Google Maps and Rand McNally to ensure the new road is in their databases, he said.
Gus Tulloss of Rocky Mount, Division 4 Transportation Board member, served as master of ceremonies.
Both the U.S. 70 and U.S. 117 corridors were designated as future Interstates in December when President Obama signed into law a new five-year transportation bill.
The bill does not provide any funding for the two highways, but does provide a strong bargaining tool for future funding, local leaders said.
The American Association of State and Transportation Officials Wednesday announced its approval of Interstate 42 for the U.S. 70 Corridor.
The N.C. Department of Transportation may now proceed with determining where Future I-42 and Future I-87 signs should be installed and pursue approval to install those signs from the Federal Highway Administration.
As for U.S. 117, the goal is to designate it as Interstate 795 from where the Interstate now ends in Goldsboro all the way to Interstate 40 in Sampson County.